ATLANTA, Jan. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This week, Smithfield Foods’ Helping Hungry Homes® initiative, a program focused on alleviating hunger across the country, joined forces with Publix to donate more than 30,000 pounds of protein to Atlanta Community Food Bank. The donation, which is equivalent to more than 120,000 servings, will help alleviate hunger across the Atlanta Metro area, where one in seven people struggle with hunger.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c969348d-0e87-4aa8-89fb-c9e897c7476d.
“Each year, we provide more than 58 million meals to those in need throughout our community,” said Kyle Waide, Chief Executive Officer for Atlanta Community Food Bank. “We are grateful to Smithfield and Publix for this large protein donation, which allows us to provide our partner agencies with high-quality protein for families across Metro Atlanta & North Georgia.”
Representatives from Smithfield and Publix presented the donation to Atlanta Community Food Bank at the event on Monday, Jan. 23. Members from all three organizations spoke about the issue of food insecurity in the local community and the significance of this donation to Georgia, where one in four children live in food insecure households.
“At Publix, we are passionate about serving those in need and have taken an active role in the fight against hunger,” said Brenda Reid, Media and Community Relations Manager for Publix. “Like Smithfield, we have a long-standing relationship with Feeding America and its network of food banks, allowing us to make a true impact on the many communities we call home.”
Smithfield’s donation to Atlanta Community Food Bank followed the kick-off of the 2017 Helping Hungry Homes® nationwide hunger-relief tour in Virginia last week. Throughout the annual tour, Smithfield will provide food banks with large-scale protein donations, partnering with local retailers along the way.
“We are proud to offer support to Atlanta Community Food Bank and the nearly 800,000 individuals it serves every year,” said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. “Although this donation will positively impact many individuals in the Atlanta area, hunger is a national issue, and we encourage others to join our fight and volunteer at their local food bank.”
Helping Hungry Homes®, now in its ninth year, will help fight hunger this year through more than 50 large-scale protein donations to food banks across the United States. To date, Helping Hungry Homes® has provided more than 49 million servings of protein to food banks across America. For more information about Helping Hungry Homes® and a list of upcoming donation events, visit helpinghungryhomes.com.
The tour will visit Community Food Bank of Central Alabama next in Birmingham on Thursday, Jan. 26.
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.
About Atlanta Community Food Bank
The Atlanta Community Food Bank works to end hunger with the food, people and big ideas needed to ensure our neighbors have the nourishment to lead healthy and productive lives. Far too many people in our own community experience hunger every day, including children, seniors and working families. Through more than 600 nonprofit partners, we help more than 755,000 people get healthy food every year. Our goal is that, by 2025, all hungry people across metro Atlanta and North Georgia will have access to the nutritious meals they need when they need them. It takes the power of our whole community to make that possible. Join us at ACFB.org.
About Publix
Publix is privately owned and operated by its 189,000 employees, with 2015 sales of $32.4 billion. Currently Publix has 1,136 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina. The company has been named one of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For in America” for 19 consecutive years. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized among the top in the grocery business. For more information, visit the company’s website, corporate.publix.com.