John Morrell® Supports Local Hunger Relief With Donation to Utah Food Bank

LISLE, Ill., Dec. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- John Morrell Food Group has localized its commitment to fighting hunger in Utah. Together with Associated Food Stores, the company made a donation of 5,000 pounds of John Morrell ham to Utah Food Bank today.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131210/CL31353LOGO)

The event is a local complement to the company's commitment to Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry^® campaign, a national organization working to end childhood hunger in America. John Morrell Food Group announced in October that it was joining parent company Smithfield Foods in supporting No Kid Hungry's efforts to ensure all children in America have the healthy food they need.

"Everyone at John Morrell Food Group is passionate about raising childhood hunger awareness and helping families get the nutrition they need," said Chuck Gitkin, vice president of marketing and R&D, John Morrell Food Group. "Joining our parent company, Smithfield Foods, this fall in supporting the No Kid Hungry campaign was a great step toward making a difference. We recognize hunger is a nationwide, ever-increasing trend; but with events like today at the Utah Food Bank and with the support of Associated Food Stores, we are able to reach those in need locally, one community at a time."

"Utah Food Bank appreciates John Morrell Food Group's commitment to Fighting Hunger Statewide this holiday season," said Ginette Bott, Utah Food Bank chief development officer. "We are proud to partner with an organization that supports hunger on both a national level through their support of Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign, as well as on a local level through their ham donation to Utah Food Bank."

Twenty-two percent of children in Utah struggle with hunger. Throughout the state, the No Kid Hungry campaign supports access to free meals in the summer and empowers families with skills to prepare healthy and affordable meals.

For more information about No Kid Hungry and to join John Morrell in supporting the campaign, please click here. To find ways to support the Utah Food Bank, visit their website.

About John Morrell Food Group 
With over a century and a half of experience, John Morrell Food Group brands have become respected and well known for providing premium-quality meat products to families across the United States. With products ranging from lunchmeat and franks to smoked sausage, bacon and pepperoni, the John Morrell Food Group is an important part of consumers' mealtimes. The John Morrell Food Group offers several national and regional brands including Armour^®, Eckrich^®, John Morrell^®, Curly's^®, Patrick Cudahy^®, Carando^®, Healthy Ones^®, Margherita^® Kretschmar^® and LunchMakers^®.

About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $13 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^®, Gwaltney^®, John Morrell^®, Kretschmar^®, Curly's^®, Carando^®, Margherita^®, 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 Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry^® Campaign
No child should grow up hungry in America, but one in five children struggles with hunger. Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry^® campaign is ending childhood hunger in America by ensuring all children get the healthy food they need, every day. The No Kid Hungry campaign connects kids in need to effective nutrition programs like school breakfast and summer meals and teaches low-income families to cook healthy, affordable meals through Cooking Matters.  This work is accomplished through the No Kid Hungry network, made up of private citizens, public officials, nonprofits, business leaders and others providing innovative hunger solutions in their communities. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.

About Utah Food Bank
Utah Food Bank provides food to a statewide network of 130 emergency food pantries and agencies. Last fiscal year, Utah Food Bank distributed 36.3 million pounds of food and goods, the equivalent of approximately 28.4 million meals for families and individuals in need. Utah Food Bank also served over 202,000 Kids Cafe meals, delivered more than 41,000 food boxes and filled over 69,000 kids' backpacks for weekends and school holidays. For more information about Utah Food Bank, visit www.utahfoodbank.org. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UtahFoodBank and Twitter at www.twitter.com/UtahFoodBank.

SOURCE John Morrell Food Group