Farmland is partnering with actor Dean Cain, Feeding America and Santa Claus to fight hunger this holiday season through a campaign aimed at raising awareness and spreading holiday spirit. Dean Cain and Farmland are asking people to join the cause by pledging to leave bacon – instead of milk and cookies – for Santa this year on Christmas Eve. For every pledge made through December 24, 2014, Farmland will donate 10 meals* to Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief charity, up to 500,000 meals.

Bacon lovers can give back and celebrate their fandom this holiday season by joining the campaign. To pledge, consumers simply need to post their own Santa "selfie" photo with the hashtag #BaconForSanta to Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. The donations will serve Feeding America's nationwide network of 200 local food banks and the more than 17 percent of Americans who suffer from food insecurity.

"Despite centuries of receiving milk and cookies, it's a little known fact that Santa is an avid bacon lover, and we think he is the perfect person to help raise awareness for such an important cause," said Dennis Pittman, Senior Director of Corporate Communications, Farmland. "We're committed to supporting the efforts of Feeding America, and every pledge taken to help Santa get the item at the top of his Christmas list – BACON! – will help make a difference in the ongoing fight against hunger across the country."

"With 49 million Americans, including 16 million children, unsure of where their next meal will come from, it's vital that we provide as much support as possible to help battle food insecurity," said Nancy Curby, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for Feeding America. "We're excited to partner with Farmland on this campaign to help raise awareness for domestic hunger and ensure more families have meals this holiday season."

To kick off the campaign, more than 100 Santas will join fellow bacon lover Dean Cain on the morning of Thursday, December 4, in Herald Square Park outside of Macy's Herald Square – Santa's home away from home during the holiday season – to tout their love of the tasty treat and encourage consumers to help make Santa's dreams come true this year. Passersby will be encouraged to pose for photos with Santa as they take the pledge and help spread the word for the importance of combating hunger this holiday.

"Every Christmas since I was a kid started the same way – with bacon and eggs," said Dean Cain. "My mother used to wake our family up with this meal each year, and now I do the same for my son. It's because of these cherished memories that I feel compelled to join the campaign to ensure Santa finally gets his Christmas wish this year while also helping to raise awareness of hunger, an important and significant problem affecting Americans nationwide."

In addition to taking the pledge, bacon aficionados are invited to join the Farmland Bacon Club at www.FarmlandBaconClub.com today through December 24, 2014 to be eligible to win exclusive Bacon Club merchandise, with one fan winning a year's supply of bacon.

For more information on Farmland, please visit FarmlandFoods.com, @FarmlandFoods or www.Facebook.com/FarmlandFoods.

Source: Farmland Foods