ALEXANDRIA, La., April 07, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the wake of the recent devastating floods in Louisiana, Smithfield donated 25,000 pounds of protein last week to two food banks providing ongoing disaster relief, which equates to 100,000 servings. The donation, which will be split between the Food Bank of Central Louisiana and Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana, was made as part of Smithfield’s Helping Hungry Homes program, the company’s nationwide hunger-relief initiative.
“The Food Bank of Central Louisiana continues to work with our partners in local disaster-response agencies, local food pantries, and many other organizations. Disaster response has been a core part of our mission for 26 years, and we are dedicated to helping as many people as possible in the days and weeks to come,” said Jayne Wright-Velez, executive director of the Food Bank of Central Louisiana. “We are so grateful for the support from donors like Smithfield who donated much-needed protein for those in need in our community. Donations like these make our work possible,” continued Wright-Velez.
“So many in Northeast Louisiana are facing the extremely difficult task of rebuilding their homes and lives, and the last thing they need to worry about is having enough food to feed their families,” said Jean Toth, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana. “This donation of protein makes a great addition to the groceries we are distributing to people living in the parishes that were declared a disaster. We are very thankful to Smithfield for their generosity.”
“Cleaning and rebuilding communities after natural disasters takes substantial time and effort. When we heard reports of how devastating these floods were, we immediately orchestrated this truckload of protein to support the ongoing aid in the affected areas,” said Dennis Pittman, Smithfield Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. “We commend all of the companies who have made contributions and, especially salute the food banks and first responders who have tirelessly provided time and resources to help their local communities and neighbors in need.”
The Food Bank of Central Louisiana and Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana serve individuals and 104 member agencies in 12 parishes of Louisiana all working not only during this disaster but throughout the year to fight hunger.
To learn how you can contribute to Food Banks of Northeast & Central Louisiana, please visit www.fbnela.org and www.fbcenla.org.
Smithfield has a long history of stocking food banks, supporting after-school nutrition programs, and providing food relief in the wake of natural disasters. In 2008, Smithfield established its Helping Hungry Homes initiative to support the fight against hunger across the country, and has since donated more than 37 million servings of protein to food banks across America.
About the Food Bank of Central Louisiana
The Food Bank of Central Louisiana is a non-profit organization whose mission is to alleviate hunger in Central Louisiana. The Food Bank distributes more than 6.9 million pounds of food and grocery products annually to needy families through a network of approved charitable agencies in the following eleven parishes: Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine, Vernon and Winn. The Food Bank of Central Louisiana is a member of Feeding America and the Louisiana Food Bank Association.
About the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana
The Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana is a charitable, not-for-profit organization that solicits, stores, and distributes food to partner agencies, children and seniors in 12 Parishes in Northeast Louisiana. Together, as a hunger-relief network we serve over 42,600 people annually. The Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana is a member of Feeding America and a United Way Partner Agency. To learn more about how you can help, please visit www.fbnela.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
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 to slow-smoked holiday hams, 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, and fresh pork cuts, the company services retail, foodservice, and deli channels across the Unites 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®, 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.