CASPER, Wyo., Feb. 28, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Albertsons & Safeway joined forces to donate more than more than 37,000 pounds of protein to Wyoming Food Bank of The Rockies. Smithfield’s contribution was part of the company’s 2019 Helping Hungry Homes® donation tour. 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 149,000 servings, will help families fight hunger across Wyoming.

“Our mission is to help families thrive by distributing food and essentials to the hungry, and we rely on donations from programs like Smithfield’s Helping Hungry Homes® initiative to make that happen,” said Shanna Harris, executive director of Wyoming Food Bank of The Rockies. “Reliable access to sufficient food is an essential element in building strong and vibrant communities, and we are so thankful for Smithfield’s support toward our mission.”

Representatives from Smithfield and Albertsons & Safeway presented the donation to Wyoming Food Bank of The Rockies 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 food insecure individuals across more than 50 counties.

During the event, Albertsons & Safeway also presented the Wyoming Food Bank of The Rockies with a gift of $2,500 in support of the food bank’s continued efforts to alleviate hunger through upcoming initiatives. A portion of the funds will be used toward the Stamp Out Hunger food drive to take place May 11, 2019 at the food bank.

“At Albertsons & Safeway, we work to support healthy families and communities, and know that this donation will help us to achieve this ever-important purpose,” said Heather Halpape, communications manager for Albertsons & Safeway. “We are proud to continue our relationship with Smithfield Foods to help resolve hunger for those in need across the many communities we call home.”

This is the fourth large-scale protein donation made by Smithfield to food banks across the country during its 2019 Helping Hungry Homes® tour. Since the program’s inception in 2008, Smithfield has provided more than 120 million servings of protein to food banks, disaster relief efforts, and community outreach programs nationwide.

“Smithfield’s Helping Hungry Homes® program continues to grow to meet the need for hunger relief across the country,” said Jonathan Toms, associate manager of charitable initiatives for Smithfield Foods. “We’re proud to make our first visit to Wyoming, as we work from coast-to-coast to feed our neighbors in all 50 states. It is our hope that this donation will make a lasting impact against hunger and inspire others to join in the fight against food insecurity.”

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, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.  

About Wyoming Food Bank of The Rockies
WFBR is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the public to perform its mission. WFBR is a division of the Food Bank of the Rockies, a 4-star rated charity by Charity Navigator and Feeding America Partner. The Food Bank of the Rockies has worked to end hunger in Wyoming since 1978. To better serve the entire state of Wyoming, FBR established Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies in October, 2004. In the years since WFBR began, it has distributed the more than 64 million meals across our state. WFBR provides food to more than 61,000 clients on a yearly basis and distributed 10.5 million pounds of food in 2018 to children, seniors, working families, veterans and other neighbors in need. To support the vision that no one goes hungry in Wyoming, WFBR’s food and products are distributed through a network of more than 250 partner agencies. For more information, visit WyomingFoodBank.org.

About Albertsons Companies
Albertsons Companies is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with both a strong local presence and national scale. We operate stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under 20 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs, as well as meal kit company Plated based in New York City. Albertsons Companies is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2018 alone, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the company gave nearly $300 million in food and financial support. These efforts helped millions of people in the areas of hunger relief, education, cancer research and treatment, programs for people with disabilities and veterans outreach.

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