Help Smithfield Help Hungry Homes

SMITHFIELD, Va., Dec. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 50.2 million people last year lived in food-insecure households, including 17.2 million children.  Smithfield Foods, the leading processor and marketer of fresh pork and packaged meats in the United States, is traveling coast-to-coast to deliver millions of servings of much needed protein to food banks – and they need your help.  Smithfield also will donate an additional serving of protein for every person who during the month of December becomes a fan of their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CookingwithSmithfield).

"Smithfield Foods is committed to hunger relief," said Dennis Pittman, public affairs director for Smithfield.  "We felt the need to help shine a spotlight on an ever-increasing problem for American families.  Providing hunger relief will continue to remain a priority."

Smithfield, in 2009, launched a program called 'Helping Hungry Homes' whereby they donate more than 100 thousand servings of protein to each food bank they visit. 'Helping Hungry Homes' was established to help ensure that American families in need do not go hungry.  Smithfield Foods and its independent operating companies have a long history of stocking food banks, supporting after-school nutrition programs and providing food relief in the wake of natural disasters.  

Food banks nationwide are reporting a 46 percent increase in the number of people coming to them for help.  The current recession and unemployment rate are having a profound effect on food banks' ability to meet the demand.  As a result, food assistance organizations across the country have been reporting over the past year that more individuals and families are turning to them for assistance, including more first-time visitors, unemployed workers, employed individuals, seniors and families with children.

For more information and to help feed food-insecure people in America, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and www.facebook.com/CookingwithSmithfield.  Becoming a fan of Smithfield's Facebook page during the month of December will guarantee another food-insecure person is fed.

SOURCE Smithfield