CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Smithfield Foods' Helping Hungry Homes® initiative, a program focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure, joined forces with Harris Teeter to donate more than 80,000 pounds of protein to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. The donation, equivalent to more than 320,000 servings, will help families fight hunger across the Charlotte metro area where one in seven individuals are food insecure.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/699e4590-c4ac-418c-8b82-371083065689

"Smithfield has been one of our strongest partners in helping feed hungry families in North Carolina, and is known for supporting food banks across the country through their Helping Hungry Homes program," said Kay Carter, CEO of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. "This donation is very timely as we approach the end of the school year, when many of the families we serve rely more heavily on the food bank as school meals are missing during the summer months. We appreciate the partnership and commitment of Smithfield to bring this substantial donation to our area."

Smithfield and Harris Teeter representatives presented the donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina at the event this morning. Members from all three organizations discussed food insecurity in the local community and the significance of this donation in helping the more than 480,000 individuals who face hunger each day in the food bank's service area, one in five are children.

"Harris Teeter, much like Smithfield, is committed to ending hunger in the many communities we call home," said Lea Ramsey, communication specialist for Harris Teeter. "Together, we are proud to support and give back to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, an organization that works each day to alleviate hunger and improve food security across the Charlotte metro area."

Smithfield's donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina 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.

"At Smithfield, we know that we are stronger when we join forces with local organizations, like Harris Teeter, that share our passion to end hunger and improve food security across the country," said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. "We hope this donation and its positive impact on the Charlotte community will inspire others to become further involved in local hunger-relief efforts by volunteering at the food bank."

Following today's event, Helping Hungry Homes® will visit Arnold, Pennsylvania Tuesday, May 23 and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Thursday, May 25. 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 Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina
As part of Feeding America, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina - serves 19 counties in North and South Carolina. In FY2015-2016, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina distributed over 50 million pounds of food and household items to almost 650 hunger feeding agencies including emergency pantries, soup kitchens, senior programs, shelters and low-income daycares.

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
Kaytee Allaben
(904) 226-9890
kallaben@daltonagency.com

Second Harvest
Delilah Roseborough
(704) 805-1711
droseborough@secondharvest.org

Harris Teeter
Lea Ramsey
(704) 238-3702
lmramsey@harristeeter.com