SMITHFIELD, Va.,Dec. 22, 2022/PRNewswire/ -- Smithfield Foods donated 30,000 pounds of protein, enough for 120,000 servings, to the Foodbank ofSoutheastern Virginiaand the Eastern Shore to help fight food insecurity inHampton Roadsduring the holidays.
The donation, which included hams, bacon, lunch meat and smoked sausage, is part ofSmithfield'sHelping Hungry Homes® program.
"Providing for the needs of our food insecure neighbors is a 365-day-a-year job," saidChristopher Tan, President & CEO of the Foodbank ofSoutheastern Virginiaand the Eastern Shore. "Smithfield Foods has always been a generous partner and good neighbor in our mission to eliminate hunger. A large gift is especially meaningful at this time of year when families should be celebrating the holiday season, not worrying about finding food to put on their tables."
"The holiday season can be stressful, and no one should have to worry about their next meal," saidJonathan Toms, senior community development manager for Smithfield Foods. "We are committed to fighting food insecurity across the country, and we're honored to be able to serve our local community in this meaningful way."
Following the food donation event,Smithfieldvolunteers packed bags for the foodbank's schoolBackPack Program, which distributes nutritious food to children at the end of the school day.
Smithfieldhas donated hundreds of millions of protein servings to food banks, disaster relief efforts and community outreach programs in all 50 U.S. states since 2008 through its Helping Hungry Homes® program. In October,Smithfielddelivered thousands of servings of foodto victims of Hurricane Ian inFort Myers, Florida, and has donated nearly 5 million pounds of protein in 2022. The company alsocontributed$2 millionto乌克兰crisis relief effortsearlier this year.
More information on Smithfield's ongoing work to strengthen and feed local communities is availablehere.
About Smithfield Foods, Inc.
Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936,Smithfield Foods, Inc.is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. With more than 60,000 jobs globally, we are dedicated to producing "Good food. Responsibly.®" and serve as one of the world's leading vertically integrated protein companies. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including our industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in our U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30% across our entire U.S. value chain by 2030. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconicbrands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich®and Nathan's Famous®, among many others. For more information, visitwww.smithfieldfoods.com, and connect with us onFacebook,Twitter,LinkedInandInstagram.
About the Foodbank
For 40 years, theFoodbankofSoutheastern Virginiaand the Eastern Shore has provided over 350 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 3-year strategic plan aimed to moveHampton Roadscloser 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 theFoodbank, visitwww.foodbankonline.org,Facebook, orTwitter.
SOURCE Smithfield Foods, Inc.
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