READING, Pa.– May 31, 2018 – Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Redner’s joined forces to donate more than 35,000 pounds of protein to the Greater Berks 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 142,000 servings, will help families fight hunger in Pennsylvania.
 
“Our mission is to feed the hungry by distributing wholesome food to our neighbors in need,” said Peg Bianca, executive director of the Greater Berks Food Bank. “We’re thankful to Smithfield and Redner’s for this wonderful donation, which will help provide nutritious meals to thousands in our community.”
 
This significant donation from Smithfield and Redner’s will provide protein to many individuals and families in the Greater Berks Food Bank’s service area. The organization collects, purchases, stores, and distributes over seven million pounds of food annually to more than 300 programs which feed those in need across Berks and Schuylkill Counties.
 
“We have a long-standing relationship with the Greater Berks Food Bank and have always been proud to support their efforts to feed the hungry in Berks and Schuylkill Counties. As a company, all of Redner’s employee owners understand the importance of supporting the fight against hunger,” said Ryan Redner, Redner’s president and CEO. “We are excited to work with our valued business partner Smithfield to offer nutritious food to our local community.”
 
This is the 27th 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, we value our commitment to take action in the fight against hunger through donations of nutrient-rich protein to those in need,” said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. “We are honored to provide this donation to the Greater Berks Food Bank and hope this inspires others in the area to get involved in this cause.”
 
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 Redner’s
Redner’s Markets, Inc., an employee owned company, currently operates 43 Grocery Stores and 21 Quick Shoppes throughout Eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. Redner's is committed to supporting the community in which each Grocery Store and Quick Shoppe is located through a variety of supportive partnerships and enrichment programs. Redner’s continually strives to provide the lowest prices, freshest product and the outstanding service our customers have come to expect for 48 years.
 
About The Greater Berks Food Bank
The Greater Berks Food Bank supplies more than 7 million pounds of food annually to more than 300 charitable food programs – food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, afterschool programs and senior programs – that feed the hungry in Berks and Schuylkill counties. Food from the Greater Berks Food Bank nourishes more than 110,000 of our hungry neighbors annually.
 
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