Fighting hunger in Perry County – one pig at a time

Livestock sales are a pinnacle moment at county fairs, bringing community together to support and celebrate local 4-H youth. In Appalachian Ohio, this summer ritual is increasingly bringing community together to also support our neighbors facing food insecurity – thanks to an innovative campaign piloted in our region by the Community Foundation for Perry County (CFPC).

In 2021, CFPC debuted its Fill the Freezer campaign, inviting buyers at the Perry County Fair’s Junior Livestock Sale to donate their hog purchases to fill the freezers of the county’s food pantries and fight hunger – one pig at a time.

In its first year, more than 5,000 pounds of pork were donated. In 2022, that number rose to 7,500 pounds. For the past three years, the campaign has yielded enough sausage to stock Perry County’s food pantries for an entire year. The 2025 campaign saw individuals, businesses and organizations donate 61 hogs and CFPC purchase an additional 19 pigs – resulting in 9,570 pounds of locally raised protein to feed Perry County residents.

In partnership with the Perry County Fair board, local 4-H and FFA members, the Southeast Ohio Foodbank, local food pantries and meat processors, and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, Fill the Freezer brings together local residents and businesses who not only donate their hog purchases but also donate money to cover meat processing costs.

Fill the Freezer’s impact has spread beyond Perry County to six other Foundation for Appalachian Ohio geographic affiliate foundation partners. In 2022, the Hocking County Community Fund debuted its Fill the Freezer campaign. The success in Perry and Hocking counties inspired the Gallia Community Foundation to launch its Fill the Freezer campaign and the Vinton County Community Fund to help expand a similar program called “Fair to Family” in 2023. The Harrison County Community Foundation started its Fill the Freezer campaign in 2024. In summer 2025, the Lawrence County Community Foundation and the Morgan Community Fund brought the campaign to their counties.

In 2025 alone, more than 33,000 pounds of locally raised protein were donated through these programs.

Across our region, communities are putting food on the tables of families in need, supporting those working on the front lines of food insecurity and demonstrating the difference we can all make when we work together.