SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Aug. 01, 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 Hy-Vee to donate more than 35,000 pounds of protein to Feeding South Dakota. The donation, equivalent to more than 140,000 servings, will help families fight hunger across Sioux Falls where one in eight individuals are food insecure.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a0421fd-ee76-419e-a01b-d6769cbd6354

"We are so incredibly grateful to Smithfield and Hy-Vee for this partnership to help end hunger in South Dakota," said Matt Gassen, CEO of Feeding South Dakota. "Nutritious protein is one of the most requested items by those in need yet one of the least donated."

Smithfield and Hy-Vee representatives presented the donation to Feeding South Dakota 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 100,000 individuals who face hunger each day in South Dakota.

"The Sioux Falls area Hy-Vees are very pleased to partner with Smithfield and Feeding South Dakota for this generous donation," said Andy Sutton, store director of the Sioux Falls Hy-Vee. "Helping Hungry Homes® is a great initiative, and this will help many South Dakota families."

Smithfield's donation to Feeding South Dakota 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, we're proud to support the many communities we call home, and today we've provided Feeding South Dakota with nutritious protein to feed the many people it serves," said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. "With help from Hy-Vee, this donation will feed thousands of families throughout South Dakota."

Following today's event, Helping Hungry Homes® will visit the Quad Cities area Thursday, Aug. 3. 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 Feeding South Dakota
Feeding South Dakota, whose mission is to eliminate hunger in South Dakota, is the state's largest charitable hunger relief organization.  In FY16, Feeding South Dakota secured and distributed over 13.5 million pounds of quality nutritious donated and purchased food providing 11.25 million meals to more than 190,000 individuals in need.  Feeding South Dakota is able to distribute this food from our distribution centers in Sioux Falls, Pierre and Rapid City through its network of over 350 charitable organizations across the state. These organizations then provide this food to individuals who are "food insecure" through youth programs, senior centers, on-site feeding programs, emergency food pantries, after school programs, and homeless shelters.  For more information on Feeding South Dakota, please visit www.feedingsouthdakota.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

About Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 240 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of $9.8 billion annually. The supermarket chain is synonymous with quality, variety, convenience, healthy lifestyles, culinary expertise and superior customer service. Hy-Vee ranks in the Top 10 Most Trusted Brands and has been named one of America's Top 5 favorite grocery stores. The company's 84,000 employees provide "A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle" to customers every day. For additional information, visit www.hy-vee.com.

Media Contacts:

Dalton Agency for Smithfield
Heather Houston
(904) 398-5222
hhouston@daltonagency.com

Feeding South Dakota
Jennifer Stensaas
(605) 335-0364 ext. 108
jennifer@feedingsouthdakota.org

Hy-Vee
Melinda Haensel
(605) 361-0313
1631marketing@hy-vee.com