CHARLESTON, S.C., Aug. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Harris Teeter joined forces to donate more than 40,000 pounds of protein to the Lowcountry 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 160,000 meals, will help families fight hunger in South Carolina.

“Our guiding principles to feed, advocate, and empower are supported through generous donations like the one we’ve received today from Smithfield,” said Pat Walker, president and CEO of the Lowcountry Food Bank. “High-quality protein allows us to better serve the community in a healthy way with nutritious food choices, a key focus for our efforts in alleviating hunger.”

Smithfield and Harris Teeter representatives presented the donation to the Lowcountry Food Bank at an event at the food bank this morning. Members of each organization discussed food insecurity in the local community and the significance of this donation, which will provide protein throughout the food bank’s service area, reaching more than 200,000 food insecure individuals across 10 counties. 

“Harris Teeter supports our local communities for one simple, yet very important reason—it is vital to our people and the places we call home,” said Danna Robinson, communication manager for Harris Teeter. “We believe it is equally important to align with our partners to take a stand against food insecurity, and are proud to take part in this donation with Smithfield.”

This is the 42nd 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 strive to support a better quality-of-life for our neighbors in need through donations of nutrient-rich protein to underserved communities across the country,” said Jonathan Toms, associate manager of charitable initiatives for Smithfield Foods. “It is our hope that this donation will provide much-needed and well-deserved relief to those the Lowcountry Food Bank serves.” 

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 The Lowcountry Food Bank
The Lowcountry Food Bank serves the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina and distributed more than 28 million pounds of food in 2017. The Lowcountry Food Bank helps fight hunger by distributing food to nearly 300 partner agencies including soup kitchens, homeless shelters and emergency food pantries. The Lowcountry Food Bank is a member of the national Feeding America network. The Lowcountry Food Bank advocates on behalf of the hungry and helps empower people to make healthy and nutritious food choices. For more information go to http://www.lowcountryfoodbank.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About Harris Teeter Companies
Harris Teeter, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), was co-founded in 1960 by North Carolina grocers W.T. Harris and Willis Teeter. Harris Teeter operates over 250 stores and 25 fuel centers in seven states and the District of Columbia. In addition to its retail stores, Harris Teeter also owns grocery, frozen food, and perishable distribution centers in Greensboro, NC and Indian Trail, NC, as well as a dairy in High Point, NC. Harris Teeter is headquartered in Matthews, NC and has approximately 30,000 associates.

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