The Fill the Freezer program helps provide locally processed meat to families experiencing food insecurity.
This grassroots campaign invites livestock buyers to donate their hogs to local food pantries—providing thousands of pounds of pork to neighbors in need.
The program is coordinated by the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) in partnership with local community foundations throughout its service area. The SE Ohio Foodbank serves as the storage and distribution hub, receiving, inspecting, storing, and distributing donated meat to hunger relief agencies.
2026 Program Timeline
Jackson County Fair Sale
Friday, July 24, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.
Perry County Fair
Saturday, July 25, 2026
Gallia County Fair
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Hocking County Fair
Saturday, September 19, 2026
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Estimated Processing Timeline
4-6 weeks
Estimated Arrival at the SE Ohio Foodbank
approximately 6 weeks
Distribution Process
Once the processed meat arrives at the SE Ohio Foodbank, it will be:
- Received and inspected
- Safely stored until distribution
- Added to the Primarius (PWW) ordering system
- Allocated specifically for agencies in our service area
When inventory becomes available, eligible agencies will be able to order products through Primarius based on their allocation.
Questions?
If you have questions about inventory availability, allocations, or placing orders, please contact foodbankhelp@hapcap.org.
To help us respond as quickly as possible, please include "Fill the Freezer" in the subject line of your email.
Thank you for your partnership and for everything you do to serve your community. We look forward to another successful Fill the Freezer season.
More information about Perry, Gallia, and Hocking Counties coming soon!
Inventory Updates
Throughout the 2026–2027 program year, the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio will share quarterly inventory updates with participating organizations using information provided by the SE Ohio Foodbank.