Smithfield Foods Donates More Than 50,000 Pounds of Protein to Two Local Food Banks in Celebration of the 22nd Annual Mayflower Marathon


SMITHFIELD, Va., Nov. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Smithfield Foods, Inc. has donated more than 50,000 pounds of protein to the 22nd Annual Mayflower Marathon, a local food drive hosted by 106.9 The Fox (WAFX-FM) and FM99 (WNOR-FM). The donation will benefit the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. Equivalent to more than 200,000 servings, the contribution will provide assistance to those fighting hunger throughout Hampton Roads, where one in seven individuals are food insecure.

The 2018 Mayflower Marathon, a 57-hour consecutive food and fund drive, will take place until Sunday, November 18, with donation sites at four locations including Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Hampton, and Yorktown. All food and monetary donations collected will benefit the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore.

"Support from our local partners is tremendously important to accomplish our goal to alleviate hunger across our community," said Karen Joyner, chief executive officer of Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. "This event is a perfect example of the great impact that is made when we come together for a common cause and we are honored to take part in all of the efforts put into this drive.”

Smithfield presented the donation of more than 50,000 pounds of protein at the Mayflower Marathon’s kickoff event located at Pembroke Mall in Virginia Beach, Virginia. During the event, speakers discussed the significance of protein donations in helping the thousands of individuals who seek support from the food banks and their partners each month and the importance of collaboration to fight hunger.

"We’re thankful for this donation from Smithfield, and humbled by their year-round efforts to end food insecurity,” said Ruth Jones Nichols, chief executive officer of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. "This donation helps us to serve more substantial meals to those who are seeking food assistance in our community.”

This donation is part of Smithfield Foods’ Helping Hungry Homes® program, an initiative focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure. Since the program’s inception in 2008, Smithfield has provided more than 100 million servings of protein to food banks, disaster relief efforts, and community outreach programs nationwide.

"At Smithfield, we value our involvement in the Mayflower Marathon to come together with our community partners, especially in a place so close to home for our company,” said Jonathan Toms, associate manager of charitable initiatives for Smithfield Foods. "We look forward to taking part in this event annually to continue our role in hunger-relief for our neighbors, family, and friends in need here in our home state of Virginia.”

For more information about Smithfield Foods’ Helping Hungry Homes® initiative and a list of upcoming donation events, visit helpinghungryhomes.com.

About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $15 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®, Farmer John®, Kretschmar®, John Morrell®, Cook's®, Gwaltney®, Carando®, Margherita®, Curly's®, Healthy Ones®, Morliny®, Krakus® 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, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Virginia Peninsula Foodbank
Since 1986, the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank has been providing hunger relief to the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg, and the counties of James City, Gloucester, Mathews, Surry, and York.  With the support of over 170 member agencies and programs, the organization has provided over 147 million meals.  The Foodbank is a proud member of Feeding America, the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, and the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula.  Our vision is to inspire hope by leading the effort for a hunger free and properly nourished community.  For more information, visit us online at our website, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

About the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore
The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, a member of Feeding America® and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, has been providing food for those facing hunger since 1981. To date, we have distributed over 261 million meals throughout our service area, which includes the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Franklin, and Virginia Beach as well as the counties of Southampton, Northampton, Sussex, Isle of Wight, and Accomack. For up-to-date information on the Foodbank, visit www.foodbankonline.org, Facebook, or Twitter.

Media Contacts:

Dalton Agency for Smithfield
Jana Beasley
(904) 534-8568
jbeasley@daltonagency.com

Virginia Peninsula Foodbank
Robyn Robertson
(757) 617-4798
rkrobertson@hrfoodbank.org

Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore
Kelli Webb
(757) 333-6901
kelliwebb@thekbdgroup.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e2a9b318-0811-40d2-9c43-17f058fa8002

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