FLORENCE, S.C., July 20, 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 W. Lee Flowers to donate more than 35,000 pounds of protein to Harvest Hope Food Bank. The donation, equivalent to more than 140,000 servings, will help families fight hunger across the food bank's service area where one in seven individuals are food insecure.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f0e6b978-fcda-4426-b659-8a96d401f636

"It is a blessing to have two such wonderful partners who are dedicated to helping end hunger in the Pee Dee," said Denise Holland, CEO of Harvest Hope Food Bank. "Smithfield Foods' and W. Lee Flowers' generosity is a shining example of how organizations can work together to provide for those in need. Without their support, our mission to provide for those who struggle with hunger would be infinitely more difficult."

Smithfield and W. Lee Flowers representatives presented the donation to Harvest Hope Food Bank at the event this morning. Members of all three organizations discussed food insecurity in the local community and the significance of this donation in helping the more than 330,000 individuals who face hunger each day in north and central South Carolina.

"We are excited to partner with Smithfield Foods once again to give back to our community," said Bill Harrell, meat department director for W. Lee Flowers. "It is a special opportunity to make an impact on the area we serve, especially alongside such a strong partner as Smithfield. We hope this donation we help a great deal of people in the Pee Dee area and beyond."

Smithfield's donation to Harvest Hope 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 nearly 60 food banks across the country. This donation adds to the more than 65 million servings of protein donated since 2011.

"Smithfield is honored to partner with W. Lee Flowers and provide protein to families living across central and northern South Carolina," said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. "We hope this donation will inspire others to become active members in the fight against hunger throughout the communities they call home."  

Following today's event, Helping Hungry Homes® will visit Baton Rouge, Louisiana Saturday, July 29. For more information about Helping Hungry Homes® 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Ⓡ, 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 Harvest Hope Food Bank
Harvest Hope Food Bank was founded in 1981 as the result of a shared vision of business leaders and the faith community who set out to provide for the hungry in Columbia. Harvest Hope distributed over 28 million pounds of food last year and feeds approximately 50,000 people a week. Their main offices are located in Columbia, but the organization also has satellite locations in Greenville and Florence.

About W. Lee Flowers
W. Lee Flowers and Company was founded in 1922 and is based in Scranton, SC. As an IGA Licensed Distribution Center, the company operates and supplies 77 IGA and independent supermarkets in the Carolinas and Georgia. It ranks as one of the largest South Carolina-headquartered grocery retailers and is the only retailer based in Florence County.

Media Contacts:

Dalton Agency for Smithfield
Kaytee Allaben
(904) 226-9890
kallaben@daltonagency.com

Harvest Hope Food Bank
Jamie Peebles
(803) 466-2250
jpeebles@harvesthope.org

W. Lee Flowers
Wil Thomy
(843) 939-7711
advertising@wleeflowers.com