SMITHFIELD, Va., June 9, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smithfield donated more than 12,000 pounds of protein this week to the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank to help feed Hampton Roads-area families in need. This donation is part of Smithfield's Helping Hungry Homes program, the company's nationwide initiative to help alleviate hunger across the country.
"We are extremely grateful to Smithfield for their continued partnership in helping to provide hunger relief across the Greater Peninsula," said Karen Joyner, Chief Executive Officer for Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. "Protein is often a difficult item for us to procure, and this donation will help to provide the protein components for 48,000 meals to the families we serve."
"Smithfield has made more than 205 donations across the country under the company's Helping Hungry Homes program," said Dennis Pittman, Smithfield Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. "Our corporate headquarters are just down the road from the Peninsula Foodbank in Smithfield, VA, so we're especially proud to provide this donation to benefit families in our local community."
Smithfield Foods and its family of brands have a long history of stocking food banks, supporting after-school nutrition programs and providing food relief in the wake of natural disasters. In January 2008, Smithfield established its Helping Hungry Homes® initiatives to help ensure that American families in need do not go hungry.
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®, Farmland®, Armour®, Cook's®, John Morrell®, Gwaltney®, Nathan's Famous®, Kretschmar®, Margherita®, Curly's®, Carando® and Healthy Ones®. 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 www.smithfieldcommitments.com.
About Virginia Peninsula Food Bank
Since 1986, the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank has been providing hunger relief to the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg, and the counties of James City, Gloucester, Mathews, Surry and York. With the support of almost 200 member agencies, the organization has provided over 117 million meals in 29 years. The Foodbank is a proud member of Feeding America, the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, and the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula. Our vision is to inspire hope by leading the effort for a hunger free and properly nourished community. For more information, visit us online at www.hrfoodbank.org, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/VAPenFoodbank, and on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/hrfoodbank.