HAMPTON, Va., Jan. 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Smithfield Foods' Helping Hungry Homes® initiative, a program focused on alleviating hunger across the country, joined forces with Harris Teeter to donate 30,000 pounds of protein to Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. The donation, which is equivalent to more than 120,000 servings, will help alleviate hunger across the Greater Peninsula, where one in seven Virginians struggle with hunger.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/37800904-4df1-4a0a-8903-ee3aee53f76b

"Protein is critical to a well-balanced meal and a much-needed resource to our food bank," said Michele Benson, Chief Development Officer for Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. "We are grateful to Smithfield and Harris Teeter for this donation, which will help us sustain our 170 member agencies as they strive to meet the ever-growing needs of our community."

Representatives from Smithfield and Harris Teeter presented the donation to Virginia Peninsula Foodbank at the event this morning. Members from all three organizations spoke about the issue of hunger in the local community and the significance of this donation. In the Greater Peninsula area, 74,000 individuals do not know where their next meal will come from, and one in six of those are children.

"Like Smithfield, Harris Teeter is committed to ending hunger in the communities we serve," said Danna Robinson, Communication Manager for Harris Teeter. "Together, we are proud to extend our support to Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, which works day-in and day-out to reduce food insecurity in Southeastern Virginia."

Smithfield's donation to Virginia Peninsula Foodbank kicked-off the 2017 Helping Hungry Homes® nationwide hunger-relief tour. Throughout the annual tour, Smithfield will provide food banks with large-scale protein donations, partnering with local retailers along the way.

"We look forward to this yearlong cross-country tour and providing nutritious protein to families across the country," said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. "We feed people—it's what we do. Through this program, we're doing what we can for our neighbors in need."

Helping Hungry Homes®, now in its ninth year, will help fight hunger this year through more than 50 large-scale protein donations to food banks across the United States. To date, Helping Hungry Homes® has provided more than 65 million servings of protein to food banks across America. For more information about Helping Hungry Homes® and a list of upcoming donation events, visit helpinghungryhomes.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 Virginia Peninsula Foodbank
Since 1986, the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank has been providing hunger relief to the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg, and the counties of James City, Gloucester, Mathews, Surry and York. With the support of almost 175 member agencies and programs, the organization has provided over 137 million meals in 30 years. The Foodbank is a proud member of Feeding America, the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, and the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula. Our vision is to inspire hope by leading the effort for a hunger free and properly nourished community. For more information, visit us online at www.hrfoodbank.org, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/VAPenFoodbank, and on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/hrfoodbank.

About Harris Teeter
Harris Teeter, with headquarters in Matthews, N.C., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR). The regional grocery chain employs approximately 30,000 associates and operates stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida and the District of Columbia.

Media Contacts:

Dalton Agency for Smithfield
Heather Houston
(386) 216-9472
hhouston@daltonagency.com

Virginia Peninsula Food Bank
Michele Benson
(757) 403-0716
mbenson@hrfoodbank.org

Harris Teeter
Lea Ramsey
(704) 844-3209
lmramsey@harristeeter.com