National Program Part of Smithfield’s Ongoing Commitment to End Hunger
SMITHFIELD, Va., Jan. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Smithfield Foods, Inc. launched its 2018 giving tour in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the company’s signature hunger-relief program, Helping Hungry Homes®. Founded in 2008, Helping Hungry Homes® is a company-wide initiative focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure.
Ten years ago, Smithfield launched Helping Hungry Homes® to raise awareness of hunger, and donate high-quality, nutritious protein to food banks, school nutrition programs, disaster relief efforts, and community outreach programs across the country.
“At Smithfield, we are committed to improving food security and ending hunger by donating high-quality, nutritious food and providing financial support to hunger-relief organizations,” said Kenneth M. Sullivan, president and chief executive officer for Smithfield Foods. “Our entire Smithfield Family is passionate about providing food to people in need and our ongoing commitment to ending hunger.”
The company commenced the 2018 tour from its headquarters in Smithfield, Virginia. During the event, Smithfield announced it will match all employee donations up to $25,000 two-to-one to Feeding America®, a hunger-relief organization with a nationwide network of 200 food banks. The company also announced a donation of nearly 120,000 pounds of protein to benefit people facing hunger in the local community. Smithfield delivered the large-scale donation to the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank in Hampton, Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore in Norfolk, and FeedMore in Richmond.
“Smithfield is a longstanding leader in hunger relief, and it is truly inspiring to stand with such an impactful partner,” said Karen Hanner, vice president of manufacturing product sourcing for Feeding America. “Over the years, Smithfield’s commitment to this cause and its work through Helping Hungry Homes® has helped countless individuals in need, and has brought much-needed awareness to this very important issue.”
Since the program began, Smithfield has donated nearly 100 million servings of protein to hunger-relief organizations across the U.S. This year, the company will host donation events benefiting more than 40 Feeding America food banks across the country in communities including:
Smithfield, VA
Daytona, FL
Jackson, MS
New Orleans, LA
Phoenix, AZ
Salt Lake City, UT
Denver, CO
Cincinnati, OH
Pittsburgh, PA
Providence, RI
Boise, ID
Chicago, IL
Springfield, IL
Buffalo, NY
Fargo, ND
Des Moines, IA
Kansas City, MO
Washington, DC
Charleston, SC
Darlington, SC
Missoula, MT
Seattle, WA
West Lawn, PA
Lowell, AR
Raleigh, NC
Memphis, TN
Austin, TX
San Diego, CA
For more information about Smithfield Foods’ Helping Hungry Homes® initiative and a list of upcoming donation events, visit helpinghungryhomes.com.
About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Nathan’s Famous®, Farmland®, Armour®, Farmer John®, Kretschmar®, John Morrell®, Cook’s®, Gwaltney®, Carando®, Margherita®, Curly’s®, Healthy Ones®, Morliny®, Krakus® and Berlinki®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.
Media Contact:
Dalton Agency for Smithfield
Jana Beasley
(904) 534-8568
jbeasley@daltonagency.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f2681f35-6833-4b1c-9ce9-e3ea31479c55
