Smithfield Foods Shines In The Season Of Giving

Posted by Gaby Wallace on November 13th, 2018

Smithfield Foods, the world’s leading pork processor and packaged meats producer, has fleshed out its commitment to providing quality foods through its Helping Hungry Homes program. This initiative, established in 2008, focuses on increasing food security for Americans. Helping Hungry Homes makes nutritious provisions available to food banks, school and community outreach programs, and disaster relief efforts.

Fighting Hunger Nationwide 

Smithfield’s hunger-fighting program has been responsible for reducing food insecurity throughout the country over the past decade. This year's 10th anniversary Helping Hungry Homes tour began at the company’s Smithfield, Virginia headquarters. In addition to committing to match employee donations to hunger relief organization Feeding America, Smithfield donated 120,000 pounds of protein to several local food banks. 

This past summer, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and the Food Bank of Western New Yorkreceived more than 171,000 protein servings each. In September, Helping Hungry Homes distributed more than 131,000 servings of protein to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and over 154,000 protein servings to the Capital Area Food Bank and DC Central Kitchen in our nation’s capital. Before the year ends, Tennessee and California communities will receive food assistance from the program, too. 

Feeding Hurricane Victims in North Carolina 

As part of its 2018 Helping Hungry Homes donation tour, Smithfield Foodsjoined with grocery chain Food Lion to distribute over 125,000 pounds of protein and 9,000 pounds of produce to food banks all over North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Florence in October. This massive donation augmented Smithfield’s initial donation of 120,000 pounds of protein given immediately following the devastating storm. These contributions amounted to over half a million servings. 

When Hurricane Michael pummeled through the Carolinas, many communities were still reeling from Florence’s damage. According to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina, Smithfield’s continued support has been critical to the recovery of these areas. This was the company’s 48th large-scale donation of protein this year. 

Helping Curb Hunger in Texas 

In November 2018, Smithfield teamed up with grocery chain H-E-B to donate over 40,000 pounds of protein to food insecure families in Central Texas. The Central Texas Food Bank received the equivalent of over 160,000 servings during Smithfield’s 49th large-scale donation of the year. This will reach thousands of Texans across 21 counties. 

As a food producer, Smithfield endeavors to make nutritious foods accessible for those who are unsure of where or when their next meal will be. The company is partnering with other companies and organizations to alleviate hunger in areas of all ranges of size, demographics, and need. Since Helping Hungry Homes was founded in 2008, the initiative has given over 100 million servings of protein to hunger prevention and disaster relief programs across the nation. With Smithfield, the season for giving never ends.