SMITHFIELD, Va., Sept. 29, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smithfield Foods, Inc. is pleased to announce its employees' efforts during Hunger Action Month™, a time where all people across the country stand together with Feeding America® and its nationwide network of food banks to fight hunger. This month, Smithfield employees collected more than 14,000 pounds of food and volunteered at local food banks across the country.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/52a10c39-ef7b-4c16-b2c4-d34a61dc4880
"Smithfield, and its more than 42,000 U.S. employees, are passionate about fighting hunger," said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. "We're proud that so many of our employees stepped up this month to raise awareness about this issue and help their fellow neighbor become more food secure."
For ten years, Feeding America® has organized Hunger Action Month to mobilize the public to take action against hunger in the United States where one in eight Americans face hunger each day. In addition to food collection and volunteer opportunities, Smithfield is engaging in this campaign by sharing information about this issue at its locations and across its social media channels.
"For more than a decade, Smithfield has been a valuable supporter of Feeding America — a true partner in the fight against hunger," said Karen Hanner, Managing Director of Manufacturing Partnerships of Feeding America. "We're humbled by their continued commitment to this cause and inspired by the widespread dedication of their employees."
In addition to employee efforts during Hunger Action Month, Smithfield's hunger-relief initiative Helping Hungry Homes® will donate more than 500,000 pounds of protein this September. These donations will go to local food banks in eight different states as well as recovery efforts following Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.
To learn more about Helping Hungry Homes® or for a list of upcoming donation events, please 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 America
Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Contact:
Kathleen Kirkham
Smithfield Foods, Inc.
(757) 365-1965
kkirkham@smithfield.com