BATON ROUGE, La., July 31, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Smithfield Foods' Helping Hungry Homes® initiative, a program focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure, donated more than 40,000 pounds of protein to Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank during a mobile distribution. The donation, equivalent to more than 160,000 meals, will help families fight hunger across south central Louisiana where one in six individuals are food insecure. This distribution event was held at the Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD) and was a celebration of the food bank's grand reopening following the 2016 Louisiana floods.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5d991288-146d-46a7-b0d8-871c1057c28e

"This donation from Smithfield has helped ease the burden of so many facing hunger in our community. Smithfield has been a tremendous partner, especially during the flood, and we are grateful to receive their help once again this summer," said Michael G. Manning, president and CEO of Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. "We also recognize that this distribution was a success due to the generous support we received from the Baton Rouge Police Department and each of the volunteers who participated."

Smithfield presented the donation to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank this morning, which was followed by an immediate distribution to food-insecure individuals. BRPD hosted, facilitated and staffed this distribution event along with food bank volunteers. Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome was also in attendance. Members from all organizations discussed the significance of this donation in helping the more than 135,000 individuals who face hunger each day across the food bank's service area.

"It is important to give back when you can," said Jonny Dunnam, interim chief of the Baton Rouge Police Department. "The Baton Rouge Police Department takes pride in making this city a better place by serving those in need."

Smithfield's donation to the Greater Baton Rouge 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.

"At Smithfield Foods, we feed people — it's what we do," said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. "We are proud to partner with Baton Rouge Police Department and the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank to help celebrate the Rouge Food Bank's transition into its new facility and provide thousands of meals to those who face hunger in the area."

Following today's event, Helping Hungry Homes® will visit Sioux Falls, South Dakota Tuesday, August 1. 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 Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank
The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank has been fighting hunger in 11 parishes including and surrounding East Baton Rouge Parish for more than 30 years. In 2016, we distributed more than 10.7 million meals to those in need through more than 115 member agencies. For more information about the Food Bank, visit www.brfoodbank.org.

About Baton Rouge Police Department
The Baton Rouge Police Department is excited to be part of this event. Serving the community is part of our duty and mission to the City of Baton Rouge. Our mission is to serve the Baton Rouge community to prevent crime and promote the safety and well-being of all. 

Media Contacts:

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

GBR Food Bank
Rachel Koch
(801)710-7612
rachel@brfoodbank.org

BRPD
Sgt. L'Jean McKneely, Jr.
(225)892-5236
lmckneely@brgov.com