Smithfield, Lowes Foods, And Richard Petty Motorsports Partner To Donate 345,000 Pounds Of Protein To Seven Food Banks Across North Carolina As Part Of "Helping Hungry Homes" Tour

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Nov. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading into this holiday season, Smithfield and Lowes Foods are partnering to help feed North Carolina families by donating more than 345,000 pounds of protein to the NC Association of Feeding America Food Banks' seven food-assistance organizations throughout the state as part of Smithfield's "Helping Hungry Homes" program.

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These organizations include Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC (Winston-Salem), Manna Food Bank (Asheville), Food Bank of the Albemarle (Elizabeth City), Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina (Charlotte), Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina (Raleigh), Food Bank of Southeastern North Carolina (Fayetteville), and Interfaith Food Shuttle (Raleigh).

Racing legend Richard Petty, who has partnered with the Smithfield Helping Hungry Homes program to donate thousands of pounds of protein over recent years, will be present to discuss the importance of these donations from Smithfield, and to help raise awareness about the necessity of providing assistance to our neighbors in need. Smithfield sponsors the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Ford with driver Aric Almirola.

Representatives from Smithfield and Lowes Foods will present the donation at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 22, during a press conference at Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC, located at 3655 Reed Street, Winston-Salem, NC.

"Hunger remains a significant and growing problem across our service area and entire state, with more than 1 in 6 people facing uncertainty over whether they will have enough to eat," said Clyde W. Fitzgerald, Jr., Executive Director for Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC. "Together with our partners and allies such as Smithfield's Helping Hungry Homes program and our friends at Lowes Foods, the seven members of the NC Association of Feeding America Food Banks are providing food and hope to those who have too little of both. We are deeply grateful for this very significant donation of protein, which will benefit our respective partner agency networks and the neighbors in need we serve together."

"We, at Lowes Foods, are proud to be a part of this most generous donation from Smithfield," said Tim Lowe, President of Lowes Foods, LLC. "The need within all of the communities that we serve is so great, and adding 1.3 million servings to our food banks right here in North Carolina is a true blessing."

"Smithfield has been one of our strongest partners in helping feed hungry families in North Carolina, and is known for supporting food banks across the country through their Helping Hungry Homes program," said Kay Carter, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, and Chair of NC Association of Feeding America Food Banks. "This donation arrives at a time when food banks throughout the state are responding to an increased need in their communities. We appreciate the partnership and commitment of Smithfield and Lowes Foods to bring this substantial donation to North Carolina."

"Of all the food we distribute, the need for protein is the most critical," said Alan Briggs, Executive Director of NC Association of Feeding America Food Banks. "These Smithfield products will be especially welcome as we work to provide holiday food assistance to our neighbors throughout the state."

"The No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports team is honored to participate in this donation with our sponsor, Smithfield," said No. 43 team owner Richard Petty. "So many race fans are loyal customers of Smithfield, and shop at Lowes Foods, so it's great to seem them giving back to communities especially during the holiday season."

"Smithfield has made more than 175 donations across the country under the company's Helping Hungry Homes program," said Dennis Pittman, Smithfield Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. "We're proud to make this substantial donation alongside Lowes Foods to help alleviate hunger in North Carolina during the holiday season."

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. In January 2008, Smithfield established their Helping Hungry Homes^® initiatives to help ensure that American families in need do not go hungry.

About NC Association of Feeding America Food Banks
The NC Association of Feeding America Food Banks is a strategic alliance of the six food banks and one food recovery organization in North Carolina who also belong to Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger-relief charity. The Association is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable nonprofit organization. Our member services include statewide networking and communication, food and fund raising, public policy analysis, and raising public awareness about hunger issues. For more information, visit www.ncfoodbanks.org.

About Lowes Foods, LLC
Lowes Foods, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alex Lee, Inc. Founded in 1954, Lowes Foods, LLC employs nearly 9,000 people and operates over 100 stores in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The company is committed to offering fabulous fresh foods and delivering personal attention to each of its customers. Locally owned and operated, Lowes Foods, LLC is committed to buying local products and supporting local suppliers. They offer programs such as Lowes Foods To Go personal shopping service and an online meal planner that focuses on saving people time and money. Information about these programs and other services offered by the company may be found at www.lowesfoods.com or by following Lowes Foods on Facebook or Twitter.

About Richard Petty Motorsports
Richard Petty Motorsports (www.richardpettymotorsports.com), co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty, Andrew Murstein and Douglas Bergeron, fields two teams in competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Aric Almirola pilots the famous No. 43 Ford Fusion with primary partners Smithfield Foods, U.S. Air Force and STP and Marcos Ambrose drives the No. 9 machine with primary partners Stanley and DEWALT. In addition, Michael Annett wheels the No. 43 Pilot Flying J Ford Mustang full time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The team is headquartered in Concord, N.C.

About Smithfield-Farmland
In August 2013, two Smithfield Foods subsidiaries, The Smithfield Packing Company and Farmland Foods, realigned to form the Smithfield-Farmland Packaged Food Group, and Smithfield-Farmland Fresh Meat Group. This union brought together two leading pork suppliers, both known for their high-quality retail and foodservice offerings in the United States and abroad across a variety of Fresh and Packaged categories. In addition to the Smithfield and Farmland brands, the company's Gwaltney and Cook's products are among the leaders in their respective markets. For more information, visit www.Smithfield.com and www.FarmlandFoods.com.

SOURCE Smithfield