PORTLAND, Ore., April 21, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yesterday, Smithfield Foods' Helping Hungry Homes® initiative, a program focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure, joined forces with Fred Meyer to donate nearly 25,000 pounds of protein to Oregon Food Bank. The donation, equivalent to more than 100,000 servings, will help families fight hunger across Oregon, Clark County and Washington where one in five individuals are food insecure.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0a98175d-11b8-4667-b76f-6e46d6f3ac72

"Each year, we provide millions of meals to the many people in need throughout our community," said Katie Pearmine, strategic sourcing manager for Oregon Food Bank. "We are grateful to Smithfield and Fred Meyer for this large protein donation, which allows us to provide high-quality protein to agencies and people throughout our service area."

Smithfield and Fred Meyer representatives presented the donation to Oregon Food Bank at the event yesterday morning. Members from all three organizations discussed food insecurity in the local community and the significance of this donation in helping the more than 270,000 individuals who seek support from Oregon Food Bank each month.

"At Fred Meyer, we are passionate about serving those in need and helping end hunger," said Zach Stratton, community affairs manager for Fred Meyer. "We share a long-standing relationship with Feeding America, much like Smithfield, and are honored to be taking an active role in alleviating hunger and food insecurity in the communities we call home."

Smithfield's donation to Oregon Food Bank was a part of the Helping Hungry Homes® 2017 nationwide donation tour. Throughout the annual tour, Smithfield will provide large-scale protein donations to more than 50 food banks across the country. This donation adds to the more than 65 million servings of protein donated since 2011.

"Smithfield is proud to support and provide high-quality protein to the Oregon Food Bank," said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. "As a global food company, we understand the importance of proper nutrition and value our responsibility to raise awareness of and address hunger throughout the country."

Following today's event, Helping Hungry Homes® will visit Chicago, Illinois next month. 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 Oregon Food Bank
Oregon Food Bank works to eliminate hunger and its root causes... because no one should be hungry. Oregon Food Bank believes that hunger starves the human spirit, communities thrive when people are nourished, and everyone deserves healthy and fresh food. Oregon Food Bank helps feed the human spirit of 1 in 5 households through a food distribution network of four Oregon Food Bank branches and 17 regional food banks serving Oregon and Clark County, Washington. Oregon Food Bank also leads statewide efforts to increase resources for hungry families and to eliminate the root causes of hunger through public policy, local food systems work, nutrition and garden education, health care screening and innovative programming. Find out how to feed the human spirit at oregonfoodbank.org.

About Fred Meyer
Fred Meyer Stores, based in Portland, Ore., offers one-stop shopping at its 133 multi-department stores in four western states. More than 30,000 Fred Meyer associates help customers fill their food, apparel, and general merchandise needs in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Stores range in size from 65,000 to 200,000 square feet and carry more than 250,000 products under one roof. Additionally, Fred Meyer contributes more than $4 million to communities across the Northwest each year through grants from the Fred Meyer Foundation as well as product donations, cash donations and sponsorships. Fred Meyer also donates more than 4 million pounds of food to local food banks each year via the Perishable Donation Program. Fred Meyer Stores is a division of The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR).  For more information, please visit our Web site at www.fredmeyer.com.

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