BROOKINGS — Thanks to a partnership of local businesses and groups, a lot of families will have a happier holiday season.

The Brookings Hy-Vee, working with Hormel Foods, Feeding South Dakota and local first responders, will give away Hormel hams at Ascension Lutheran Church on Monday from 5-7 p.m.

The overall program will serve 10 locations in 8 states and aims to give away 5,000 hams total. Hormel began the program in 1989 and Hy Vee has partnered with them for the last six years. This is the first year Brookings was chosen as a distribution location.

And it comes at an opportune time. With food banks — both locally and nationwide — experiencing exceedingly high demand since the COVID-19 pandemic, additional direct aid is needed.

“Food insecurity is a very real concern that affects many of our neighbors and customers,” Hy-Vee CEO Jeremy Gosch said in a release. “With the support of our partner, Hormel Foods, we can give back and help make this holiday season a little brighter for those who may be struggling.”

Locally, the event will be coordinated by Brad Walters, Hy-Vee district store director, and Tom Shamp, Hy-Vee’s Brookings store manager.

Walters said Hy-Vee has about a dozen employees who will make the trip to Ascension Lutheran on Third Street on Monday to help pass out 470 hams from the Brookings store.

Walters said he had a chance to participate in the event when he worked for Hy Vee in Lincoln, Neb.

“It’s an amazing event. It’s a chance to help people,” Walters said. “And hunger is a real issue our communities are dealing with. Any way we’re able to help with that is pretty awesome.”

Shamp said the crew at the Brookings Hy-Vee was excited to have been chosen for this year’s program.

“We’re really happy and excited. It’s a chance to provide to our community and our crew is really happy about that,” Shamp said.

Both Shamp and Walters encouraged anyone in need to come to Ascension Lutheran on Third Street between 5 and 7 p.m. on Monday. Hy-Vee employees, first responder volunteers and Feeding South Dakota will also be there to help make sure everyone who needs one gets a ham for the holidays.

“It’s a great pleasure,” Walters said. “Anything we can do to make the holidays a little brighter, it’s a great thing.”

Linehan is the Register’s managing editor and welcomes comments at jlinehan@brookingsregister.com.