Smithfield Foods is donating 80,000 pounds of protein to flood victims in Louisiana. The food will be distributed by the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Smithfield also donated the use of a refrigerated trailer to store the food products. In a news release, Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank CEO Michael Manning says the contributions will “go a long way to help feed the community” recovering from historic flooding. To date, more than 30 parishes in Louisiana have been declared disaster zones with limited access to common resources, including food. Smithfield’s protein donation is part of its Helping Hungry Homes program that already provided 25,000 pounds of protein to flood victims, which Operational BBQ Relief and Sam’s Club transformed into meals. In 2015, Smithfield says the Helping Hungry Homes program provided 18.8 million servings of food through food banks, school nutrition programs, disaster relief and community outreach programs.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service.
From: Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods’ Helping Hungry Homes Program Increases Support For Louisiana Flood Victims
Smithfield Foods announced a donation of 80,000 pounds of protein to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank delivered over the next two weeks. Currently, Smithfield’s refrigerated Helping Hungry Homes® truck is housing 40,000 pounds of protein and an additional truck with another 40,000 pounds will be delivered by Friday.
“We are very grateful for Smithfield’s support during this time of extreme need,” said Michael G. Manning, president and CEO of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. “Securing protein is often difficult in normal circumstances and these floods have brought additional obstacles. Their contributions, as well as the use of the much-needed refrigerated trailer, will go a long way to help feed the community as we recover from the historic flooding.”
To date, more than 30 parishes have been declared disaster zones with limited access to common resources including food for thousands of families. Smithfield’s protein donation is part of its Helping Hungry Homes® initiative to alleviate hunger across the country and help Americans become more food secure. Last week, Helping Hungry Homes® also provided 25,000 pounds of protein, which Operational BBQ Relief and Sam’s Club transformed into warm meals for flood victims.
“We will continue to do everything we can to help feed our neighbors in Baton Rouge following this unprecedented disaster,” said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. “We’re honored to contribute to the work of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank as it supports those impacted by these floods.”
For more information or to learn how you can assist the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, visit www.brfoodbank.org.
About Great Baton Rouge Food Bank
The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to feed the hungry in Baton Rouge and the surrounding parishes by providing food and educational outreach through more than 115 faith-based and community partners. For more than 30 years, we have served the hungry and distributed countless meals to those in need. The food bank relies on community support from those who give funds, food, and time. Join us! Together, we’re fighting hunger. Visit www.brfoodbank.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $14 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®, Nathan’s Famous®, Farmland®, Armour®, John Morrell®, Cook’s®, Kretschmar®, Gwaltney®, Curly’s®, Margherita®, Carando®, Healthy Ones®, Krakus®, Morliny®, and Berlinki®. 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.