Campaign aims to fight hunger in Noble County – one pig at a time
CALDWELL, Ohio – The Noble County Community Foundation (NCCF) will debut its Fill the Freezer campaign at the 2026 Noble County Fair, bringing local residents, businesses and organizations together to help community members facing food insecurity.
The campaign invites buyers at the fair’s Sept. 5 junior livestock sale to donate their hog purchases to fill the freezers of the county’s food pantries and others to donate money to cover meat processing costs. The goal? To fight hunger in Noble County – one pig at a time.
The Fill the Freezer campaign is being held in partnership with the Noble County Fair Board, local 4-H and FFA members, meat processors and Mid-Ohio Food Collective, which will store and distribute the donated meat to Noble County food pantries. The NiSource Charitable Foundation and Columbia Gas as well as EOG Resources are serving as corporate sponsors of this campaign and covering a portion of the meat processing costs.
“Fill the Freezer gives everyone the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of Noble County residents and to showcase this community’s compassion and generosity,” said Randy Lowe, NCCF committee member. “This year’s junior fair livestock sale will not only support our local youth but also feed many of our neighbors who need a helping hand.”
Locally raised meat donated through Fill the Freezer will not only help individuals and families in Noble County, where more than 16 percent of the population experiences food insecurity, but also the food pantries that serve them by providing high-quality protein. Meat is among the most expensive grocery items, making it often unaffordable for both families living on lower incomes and food pantries.
NCCF is one of a growing number of FAO’s affiliate foundation partners spearheading or supporting Fill the Freezer and similar campaigns. In 2025 alone, more than 33,000 pounds of fresh, local protein were donated through these programs.