LAS VEGAS, March 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Smithfield Foods’ Helping Hungry Homes® initiative, a program focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure, joined forces with Albertsons to donate more than 35,000 pounds of protein to Three Square Food Bank. The donation, equivalent to more than 140,000 servings, will help families fight hunger across Southern Nevada where one in seven individuals are food insecure.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0200e159-f24b-4ab6-ac01-2af8e67bb3d5
“Each day, thousands of our neighbors must choose whether to feed their families or pay their bills,” said Dan Williams, chief operating officer of Three Square Food Bank. “Today’s donation from Smithfield and Albertsons will help bring meals to those families’ dinner table for weeks to come.”
Smithfield and Albertsons representatives presented the donation to Three Square Food Bank this morning at the grand reopening of the new Albertsons store. Members from all three organizations discussed food insecurity in the local community and the significance of this donation in helping the nearly 300,000 individuals who face hunger each day in Southern Nevada.
“Albertsons is honored to partner with Smithfield Foods’ on this massive donation of protein to Three Square Food Bank,” said Nancy Keane, spokesperson for Albertsons’ Southwest Division. “As a proud community partner and supporter of food banks, we know firsthand how far this food donation will go to help families in need throughout the Las Vegas area. We salute Smithfield Foods’ in their commitment to help eliminate hunger.”
Smithfield’s donation to Three Square Food Bank was a part of the Helping Hungry Homes® 2017 nationwide donation tour. Throughout the annual tour, Smithfield will provide large-scale protein donations to more than 50 food banks across the country. This donation adds to the more than 49 million servings of protein donated since the program’s inception in 2008.
“At Smithfield Foods, we feed people – it’s what we do,” said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. “We are proud to partner with Albertsons and leaders in this community for today’s donation, which will provide thousands of meals to those who face hunger in Southern Nevada.”
Following today’s event, Helping Hungry Homes® will visit Lowell, Arkansas Tuesday, March 14 before traveling to Austin, Texas Tuesday, March 21 and then to Dallas, Texas Thursday, March 23. For more information about Helping Hungry Homes® and a list of upcoming donation events, visit helpinghungryhomes.com.
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 Three Square Food Bank
Established in 2007 to provide hunger relief, Three Square Food Bank offers wholesome, nutritious food to nonprofit and faith-based organizations, schools and feeding sites that serve a wide range of Southern Nevadans. A national model project inspired by Founder Eric Hilton with a grant provided by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Three Square is a community collaborative partnership with businesses, nonprofit agencies, food distributors, higher education institutions, the Clark County School District, governmental entities, the media and thousands of volunteers to efficiently and effectively work together to serve those in our community struggling with hunger. Three Square currently provides more than 40 million pounds of food and grocery product – the equivalent of more than 33 million meals – per year through a network of more than 1,300 community partners. Three Square is a member of the Feeding America network of food banks. For additional information visit threesquare.org. For the latest news and events on Three Square, visit Facebook and follow them on Instagram and Twitter (@threesquarelv).
About Albertsons and Vons
Albertsons Companies is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with both a strong local presence and national scale. The company operates stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under 19 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs. Albertsons Companies is dedicated to helping people across the country live better lives. In 2015 alone, with the help of generous customers, Albertsons Companies and the Albertsons Companies Foundation gave more than $270 million in food and financial support to the more than 2,300 communities they serve, improving the lives of millions of people in the areas of hunger relief, education, cancer research and treatment, programs for people with disabilities, and veterans outreach. Albertsons Companies is committed to making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood.