SMITHFIELD, Va., Dec. 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smithfield Foods’ Helping Hungry Homes^® initiative, a program focused on alleviating hunger across the country, has concluded its month-long donation of more than one million pounds of protein to Feeding America^® and its network of food banks. This large-scale contribution is in addition to the more than 40 significant donations made by Helping Hungry Homes^® across the country in 2016.

Helping Hungry Homes® is Smithfield’s initiative focused on alleviating hunger across the country.

"More than 42 million people in the United States face hunger, including 13 million children,” said Nancy Curby, Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships and Operations at Feeding America. “We are grateful for our partners at Smithfield for their efforts to help provide nutritious food to people in need and thankful for the incredible progress we have made together in the fight to end hunger.”

Smithfield selected Feeding America as its partner because of the organization’s impact on hunger relief through its network of 200 food banks and more than 60,000 food agencies. Feeding America affiliate food banks picked up donations directly from Smithfield processing facilities and will distribute the protein to its member agencies.

“At Smithfield, we value our responsibility as a global food producer to help our neighbors in need, and we encourage others to join our fight against hunger,” said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. “This sizable donation will not only feed individuals and families facing hunger, but we hope it will also raise awareness of this issue and inspire others to take action.”

Helping Hungry Homes^®, now in its eighth year, has provided more than 48 million servings of protein to food banks across America. As part of this ongoing program, Smithfield continued its fight against hunger by making more than 40 large-scale protein donations across the United States in 2016.

For more information about Helping Hungry Homes^®, visit helpinghungryhomes.com.

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 Feeding America
Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Media Contact:
 
Kathleen Kirkham
Smithfield Foods, Inc.
(757) 365-1965
kkirkham@smithfield.com