PITTSBURGH, May 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Smithfield Foods, Inc. joined forces with Giant Eagle to donate more than 34,000 pounds of protein to Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Smithfield's contribution was part of the company's 2018 Helping Hungry Homes® donation tour. Now in the program's 10th year, Helping Hungry Homes® is Smithfield's signature hunger-relief initiative focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure. The donation, equivalent to more than 138,000 servings, will help families fight hunger across southwestern Pennsylvania.

"We have been committed to ensuring all of our neighbors have enough food for more than 30 years," said Lisa Scales, president and CEO of Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. "The generous donation we received today from Smithfield Foods will provide high-quality protein, an item in high demand in our community, to the 110,000 individuals we serve monthly."

Smithfield and Giant Eagle representatives presented the donation to Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank at an event at the organization's warehouse this morning. Members of the organizations discussed food insecurity in the local community and the significance of this donation, which will provide protein throughout the food bank's service area, which includes 11 counties across southwestern Pennsylvania.

"At Giant Eagle, we do our best to support local initiatives, with hunger-relief and community enrichment as part of our key areas of contribution," said Dan Donovan, Giant Eagle Spokesperson. "We are honored to partner with Smithfield on this donation to Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to help serve many of our neighbors in need."

This is the 19th large scale protein donation made by Smithfield to food banks across the country during its 2018 Helping Hungry Homes® tour. Since the program's inception in 2008, Smithfield has provided more than 100 million servings of protein to food banks, disaster relief efforts, and community outreach programs nationwide.

"At Smithfield Foods, we strive to eliminate hunger and help provide relief to food insecure individuals in communities we call home and all across the country," said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. "We are proud to have partnered with organizations who are dedicated to alleviating hunger, such as Giant Eagle and Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and we hope this inspires more to get involved in any way they can to best support their local communities."

For more information about Smithfield Foods' Helping Hungry Homes® initiative 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®, Farmer John®, Kretschmar®, John Morrell®, Cook's®, Gwaltney®, Carando®, Margherita®, Curly's®, Healthy Ones®, Morliny®, Krakus® 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 Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, a member of Feeding America, is a nonprofit organization founded in 1980 that distributes more than 33 million meals annually throughout a network of nearly 400 member agencies across 11 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania. For more information on hunger in our region or how to get involved, visit pittsburghfoodbank.org.

About Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle, Inc., ranked among the top 40 on Forbes magazine's largest private corporations list, is one of the nation's largest food retailers and distributors with approximately $8.9 billion in annual sales. Founded in 1931, Giant Eagle, Inc. has grown to be a leading supermarket retailer in the region with more than 410 retail locations throughout western Pennsylvania, north central Ohio, northern West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana.

Media Contacts:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/438dab93-b750-4e83-b52c-a294c32ce4c9