LISLE, Ill., Sept. 13, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eckrich, the makers of naturally hardwood smoked sausage and savory deli meats, partnered with the San Diego Naval Base Military Commissary and Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families, to honor a California military family on Sunday.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7aa114f9-62b4-4b3b-ab5e-5490478722f9

Eckrich invited the Estrada family to the Randy Houser concert in Salt Lake City, Utah and surprised them with a gift of $5,000 in free groceries to the San Diego Naval Base commissary on a day when we all remember and honor our military families.

Together, Eckrich and Houser have partnered to honor U.S. military families since 2014. Houser is known for top hits including his four No. 1 singles "How Country Feels," "Runnin' Outta Moonlight," "Goodnight Kiss" and "We Went" as well as the Top 5 smash "Like A Cowboy." He recently released his fourth studio album, Fired Up, via Stoney Creek Records. The 17-song project follows Houser's breakthrough album, How Country Feels, and features his latest No. 1 hit "We Went" and new single, "Chasing Down a Good Time."

Rudy Estrada served 13 years in the United States Navy. He completed multiple tours overseas and received numerous awards, including two Purple Hearts. Rudy's wife, Merjel, is his caregiver and volunteers with the Hearts of Valor program. Together, Rudy and Merjel have three boys.

"This was a very exciting night for us," said Estrada.  "We did not expect this gift and are very grateful for Eckrich and what they did."

The event is part of the ongoing campaign by Eckrich to honor, thank and support military families through its partnership with Operation Homefront. The Estrada family is supported by Operation Homefront's Hearts of Valor® program, a network of more than 3,000 caregivers for wounded, ill or injured service members. Operation Homefront supports these caregivers through annual retreats, support groups and online communities.

Eckrich, in its fifth year of partnership with Operation Homefront, has donated more than $2.5 million to the organization since 2012.

"On a day when we thank and pay respect to all of our military families, we are proud to honor the Estrada family," said Jennifer Zmrhal, Senior Director, Marketing, Smithfield Foods.  "Our partnership with Randy Houser continues to allow us to honor, thank and support military families in a special way.  This gift of $5,000 in free groceries at the San Diego Naval Base Military Commissary serves as a small token of our appreciation for the service and sacrifice of the Estrada family."

For more information about Eckrich, please visit www.eckrich.com.

About Eckrich
Founded by Peter Eckrich in 1894, Eckrich has a rich heritage starting from a small meat market in Fort Wayne, Ind. Through it all, Eckrich meats have been recognized for their great taste and supreme quality, craftsmanship, care and pride. For more information, visit www.eckrich.com.

About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $14 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®, John Morrell®, Cook's®, Kretschmar®, Gwaltney®, Curly's®, Margherita®, Carando®, Healthy Ones®, Krakus®, Morliny®, 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.

About Operation Homefront
A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront builds strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive in the communities they have worked so hard to protect.  With more than 3,200 volunteers nationwide, Operation Homefront has provided assistance to tens of thousands of military families since its inception shortly after 9/11. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 92 percent of Operation Homefront's expenditures go directly to programs that provide support to our military families. For more information, go to www.OperationHomefront.net.

About Randy Houser
With an inimitable voice the New York Times describes as "wholly different, thicker and more throbbing, a caldron bubbling over," Randy Houser racked up three consecutive No. 1 hits and more than four million in singles sales to date with his Stoney Creek Records album, How Country Feels. He topped the charts with the title track, "Runnin' Outta Moonlight" and "Goodnight Kiss" (also his first No. 1 as a songwriter) and earned critical acclaim for his powerful delivery of the Top 5 smash and CMA Song of the Year-nominated "Like A Cowboy." Houser added a fourth No. 1 to his catalogue with "We Went" from his latest album, Fired Up, and recently released a new single, "Chasing Down A Good Time." He is currently on the Somewhere On A Beach Tour with Dierks Bentley. For more information, visit www.RandyHouser.com or follow on Twitter @RandyHouser and www.Facebook.com/RandyHouser.

Contacts:
Jeff Dennison
Breaking Limits for Eckrich
2137 South Blvd., Suite 200
Charlotte, N.C. 28203
Direct: 704-766-9061
Cell: 704-252-3356
E-Mail: jdennison@breakinglimits.net 

Media Contacts for Randy Houser
Ebie McFarland / Stephanie Rew
Essential Broadcast Media
P.O. Box 120921
Nashville, TN 37212
Direct: 615-327-3259
E-Mail: ebie@ebmediapr.com / stephanie@ebmediapr.com