KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 18, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Price Chopper joined forces to donate more than 36,000 pounds of protein to Harvesters—The Community Food Network. 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 147,000 servings, will help families fight hunger across northwestern Missouri and northeastern Kansas.  

“Hunger has no boundaries. We are thankful for our allies against hunger, such as Smithfield and Price Chopper, who help us provide nutritious and beneficial meals to the one in seven individuals in our local area struggling with hunger,” said Valerie Nicholson-Watson, president and CEO of Harvesters—The Community Food Network. “With donations like the one we have received today from Smithfield, we are able to educate and raise awareness of hunger across our service area while feeding those in need.”

Smithfield and Price Chopper representatives presented the donation to Harvesters at an event at a local Price Chopper 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, including more than 20 counties across Missouri and Kansas. 

“The Price Chopper family takes pride in being a great neighbor. We’re thankful to partner with Smithfield Foods and Harvesters to provide quality protein to those in need,” said Casie Broker, vice president of marketing at Price Chopper. “Together, we can alleviate hunger in our communities.”

This is the 39th 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.

“Smithfield recognizes the importance of a balanced meal,” said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. “By joining forces with Harvesters and Price Chopper, we can create meaningful opportunities to help our neighbors in need throughout these Missouri and Kansas 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 Harvesters—The Community Food Network
Harvesters is a regional food bank and was Feeding America's 2011 Food Bank of the Year. Serving a 26-county area of northwestern Missouri and northeastern Kansas, Harvesters provides food and related household products to more than 620 not-for-profit agencies including emergency food pantries, community kitchens, shelters and others. Agencies in Harvesters' network provide food assistance to as many as 141,500 different people each month. Harvesters, which was founded in 1979, is a certified member of Feeding America, a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, serving all 50 states. For more information, visit www.harvesters.org.

About Price Chopper
Price Chopper's 53 Kansas City stores are locally owned by the Ball, Cosentino, McKeever and Queen families, all of whom live in Kansas City and oversee store operations on a daily basis. For 39 years, the owners and employees of Price Chopper have been committed to providing the highest quality products and top-of-the-line customer service to the thousands of customers they serve every day. For more information, please visit www.mypricechopper.com.

Media Contacts:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/efb03d32-dbde-4491-a36c-f120e0e5f119