NORFOLK, Va., May 15, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smithfield Foods, Inc. has donated more than 42,000 pounds of protein to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. 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 168,000 servings, will help fight hunger throughout eastern Virginia.

“Since 1981, we have been leading the effort to eliminate hunger in our community by providing food for individuals in need around the eastern shore of Virginia,” said Ruth Jones Nichols, chief executive officer of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. “We could not provide this support without help from community partners like Smithfield, and we are so appreciative of this generous protein donation.”

This is the 25th 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 130 million servings of protein to food banks, disaster relief efforts, and community outreach programs nationwide.

“At Smithfield, we are dedicated to feeding people, especially in the communities we call home,” said Jonathan Toms, associate manager of charitable initiatives at Smithfield Foods. “Protein donations are one way we choose to fight food insecurity and we stand together with active community partners, like the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, to do just that.”

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 Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore
For over 35 years, the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore has provided over 290 million meals to those in our community who face hunger. Through our programs, facilities, and large network of community partners, we “eliminate hunger” on a daily basis for many. However, we understand that our current work addresses hunger for individuals in the short term. It does not address the root causes which force individuals to return to a food pantry again and again. This understanding has led to the creation of a new 3-year strategic plan aimed to move Hampton Roads closer to achieving the mission of eliminating hunger for those we serve – not only for the day, or for the week, but for a lifetime. For up-to-date information on the Foodbank, visit www.foodbankonline.org, Facebook, or Twitter.

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