Smithfield Donates More Than 25,000 Pounds of Protein to the Food Bank of South Central Michigan to Celebrate Michigan Race Weekend
Smithfield Partners with Meijer and Richard Petty Motorsports to Provide More Than 100,000 Servings to Jackson County and Surrounding Communities
JACKSON, Mich., Aug. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smithfield’s Helping Hungry Homes truck pulled into Jackson this morning for the 24th stop on the 2016 nationwide hunger-relief tour to donate more than 25,000 pounds of protein to the Food Bank of South Central Michigan. The donation will provide more than 100,000 servings and help the Food Bank continue to provide meals to the South Central Michigan community, where one in six people suffers from hunger.
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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/93cd5bb2-6428-49ba-aea5-b60c5c8beab0
Smithfield partnered with Meijer and Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) to present the donation during an event at the Jackson Meijer, 3333 E. Michigan Ave. Speakers discussed the importance of donations like these in South Central Michigan.
“The King” of racing, Richard Petty, who has partnered with the Smithfield Helping Hungry Homes program to donate thousands of pounds of protein over recent years, was present to discuss the importance of these donations from Smithfield and to raise awareness about the necessity of providing assistance to our neighbors in need.
Helping Hungry Homes, now in its eighth year, is Smithfield’s coast-to-coast tour to help Americans become more food secure. This year, the program will help fight hunger through more than 35 large-scale protein donations to food banks across the United States totaling more than 3.5 million servings. To date, Helping Hungry Homes has provided more than 40 million servings of protein to food banks across America.
“We truly appreciate community partners like Smithfield and Meijer who help make our work at the Food Bank of South Central Michigan possible,” said Patty Parker, executive director at the Food Bank. “Food insecurity continues to be an issue in Jackson County, with more than 24,000 people not knowing where their next meal is coming from on any given day. We thank Smithfield for their amazing donation of protein. It will go a long way in meeting the needs of those who are hungry in this community.”
“Food is such a fundamental need, but unfortunately, it’s something that many of our neighbors are struggling to put on their tables,” said Meijer Spokeswoman Christina Fecher. “As a retailer with a mission to feed people, hunger has become an important philanthropic focus. We are pleased to partner with Smithfield to help the Food Bank of South Central Michigan make a difference in the community.”
“Smithfield is proud to partner with Meijer and RPM to honor the Food Bank of South Central Michigan and present this donation through our Helping Hungry Homes program,” said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. “As a food company, it’s our responsibility to feed our neighbors in need. Through this donation, we are proud to provide wholesome protein to families and individuals throughout South Central Michigan, where more than one in five children suffer from hunger.”
“RPM is honored to participate in this donation during Michigan race weekend,” said Richard Petty. “So many race fans are loyal customers of Smithfield and shop at Meijer, so it’s great to see the two organizations partnering to give back to the communities that support them, and our race team, throughout the year.”
About Smithfield
A leading provider of high-quality pork products, Smithfield was founded in 1936 in Smithfield, Virginia, establishing the town as the “Ham Capital of the World.” From hand-trimmed bacon and slow-smoked holiday hams to marinated tenderloins, Smithfield brings artistry, authenticity and a commitment to heritage, flavor, and handcrafted excellence to everything it produces. With a vast product portfolio including smoked meats, hams, bacon, sausage, ribs, and a wide variety of fresh pork cuts, the company services retail, foodservice, and deli channels across the United States and 30 countries abroad. All of Smithfield's products meet the highest quality and safety standards in the industry. To learn more about how Flavor Hails from Smithfield, please visit www.Smithfield.com, www.Twitter.com/SmithfieldBrand, and www.Facebook.com/CookingWithSmithfield. Smithfield is a brand of Smithfield Foods.
About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $14 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®, John Morrell®, Cook's®, Kretschmar®, Gwaltney®, Curly's®, Margherita®, Carando®, Healthy Ones®, Krakus®, Morliny®, 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 Richard Petty Motorsports
A performance and marketing driven company, Richard Petty Motorsports, co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty and successful business entrepreneur Andrew Murstein, is one of the most recognized brands in all of motorsports. With a history of over 200 wins and business partnerships with national and global leaders, today the race operation fields two teams in competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Aric Almirola and Brian Scott. Almirola will return to the iconic No. 43 Ford with partners Smithfield Foods, STP, United States Air Force and the “Fresh From Florida” campaign. Scott will make his debut with the team and drive the Petty Family No. 44 Ford. Albertsons Companies, Shore Lodge, Twisted Tea and GoBowling.com will join Scott as he competes for Rookie of the Year in his first full-time season in the Sprint Cup Series. Richard Petty Motorsports will also field the No. 43 Ford Mustang in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. The team is headquartered in Mooresville, N.C.
About Meijer
Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 230 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. As a pioneer of the “one-stop shopping” concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive apparel departments, garden centers and electronics offerings. Additional information on Meijer can be found at www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer or @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.
About The Food Bank of South Central Michigan
The Food Bank of South Central Michigan serves a 285-member hunger-relief network, helping area families in Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Hillsdale, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lenawee and St. Joseph counties. The Food Bank is a member of Feeding America and the Food Bank Council of Michigan. The Food Bank is also a United Way program delivery partner.
Media Contacts: Hunter PR for Smithfield Elisabeth Garcia (212) 679-6600 egarcia@hunterpr.com Richard Petty Motorsports Heather Lumpp (847) 302-5509 hlumpp@rpm43.com Meijer Christina Fecher (616) 540-6108 christina.fecher@meijer.com Food Bank of South Central Michigan Holly Cavinder (269) 441-4432 hcavinder@foodbankofscm.org
