Our Mission: Giving Back, One Ham at a Time
Each year, the Oklahoma Pork Council proudly spearheads the Give-A-Ham Campaign, a heartfelt initiative dedicated to spreading joy and providing essential support to communities across our great state. With a commitment to giving back, fostering unity, and combating food insecurity, this annual tradition embodies the true spirit of the holiday season.
Giving back is a cornerstone of what Oklahoma pig farmers do. Oklahoma pig farmers find ways to give back to communities with food, time, donations, and more year-round. The holiday season is no different.
Every year on Giving Tuesday, Oklahoma’s Give-A-Ham campaign launches with a challenge from the Oklahoma Pork Council Board of Directors President. This starts the coordinated holiday season giving effort, but it’s through YOUR involvement and local donation that we make an impact in Oklahoma.
Think about this…if you donate one 8-pound ham to a food pantry in your local community, you are providing 32 servings of protein or just over 6.5 meals to a community member fighting food insecurity. The time is now. Take the challenge. Give back to your community between December 3 and December 24.
Together, we can make a difference and bring smiles to the faces of fellow Oklahomans. Thank you for joining us in this noble cause!
2024 Community Giving Schedule:
Tuesday, December 3 – Giving Tuesday / Launch of Give-A-Ham
Location: Oklahoma State University Main Campus, Stillwater, OK
1,000 free pork sandwiches will be served starting at 8 a.m.
Thursday, December 5 - Community 300 Free Pork Lunches (first come, first served while supplies last)
Location: Downtown Maysville, OK
Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m.
Friday, December 6 - Blue & Gold Sausage Gives Back with the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma
Location: Tulsa, OK
Location: Wewoka, OK at First United Bank
Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m.
Friday, December 13 – 4-H/ FFA Members Packing Meal Boxes at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Tuesday, December 17 - Community 300 Free Pork Lunches (first come, first served while supplies last)
Location: Seiling, OK at the corner of 3rd and Main (across from Seiling State Bank)
Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, December 19 - Community 300 Free Pork Lunches (first come, first served while supplies last)
Location: 520 S. Fifth Street, Hartshorne, OK (the Oklahoma Community Selected by Social Media Voting)
Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m.
Fill out the form below if you plan to participate in the 2024 Give-a-Ham challenge!
Here’s how you can join Oklahoma’s pig farmers in fighting food insecurity by participating in the #GiveAHam challenge:
Step 1 – Take a photo or video of you challenging someone you know to #GiveAHam. Simply, hold the ham or pork product and share who you are donating your ham or pork product to then challenge another Oklahoman to #GiveAHam.
Step 2 – Post the photo or video on your social media pages. Be sure you tag the person you are challenging in your post so they will know about it. Also, if possible, tag the organization you are donating to. Be sure to include the hashtag of #GiveAHam and #OklahomaPork on your social media posts. Don’t forget to make your post public so we can see it!
Sample Script: I’m [name] and am from [city, Oklahoma]. This holiday season, I’m accepting the #GiveAHam challenge from [name] and donating this [ham or pork product] to [organization]. [Name], will you join me in this challenge and #GiveAHam?
See an example of Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s Give-A-Ham challenge video here.
Step 3 – Be sure the person you challenged follows through, donates a ham or pork product and challenges someone else so the giving continues.
Pro tips:
Challenge – Contact the person you plan to challenge before you post the video/photo to make sure they are able and willing to participate and keep the challenge going.
Donation – It’s best to find a local family, shelter, church, food pantry or charitable organization to give your ham or pork product. Should you need assistance with finding a location to give, feel free to call the Oklahoma Pork Council office at 405-232-3781.
Posting to Social Media – Don’t forget to use the hashtag #GiveAHam so all donations can be tracked toward our giving goal!
Timing – Don’t let time pass you by! The Oklahoma Give-A-Ham challenge will run from November 28 to December 24.
