AUSTIN, Texas, March 21, 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 Randalls to donate more than 35,000 pounds of protein to the Central Texas Food Bank. The donation, equivalent to more than 140,000 servings, will help those fighting hunger in Central Texas, where one in six individuals are food insecure.
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“Every week, we serve 46,000 individuals and their families who struggle to find their family’s next meal,” said Derrick Chubbs, president and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank. “Today’s donation from our friends at Smithfield Foods and Randalls allows us to provide a steady source of protein—an essential nutrient—to our neighbors in need throughout Central Texas.”
Smithfield and Randalls representatives presented the donation to the Central Texas Food Bank this morning at an event that raised awareness of hunger’s impact in the local community. Members from all three organizations discussed the significance of protein donations in helping the nearly 470,000 individuals, including one in four children, who face hunger each day in Central Texas.
“At Randalls, we are proud to address hunger nationally and throughout the many communities we serve,” said Ronnie Taylor, district manager for Randalls. “Today, we are excited to partner with Smithfield and continue our fight against food insecurity by providing protein to the families who rely on the Central Texas Food Bank for support.”
Smithfield’s donation to the Central Texas Food Bank is 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 65 million servings of protein donated since 2011.
“As a global food company, we at Smithfield Foods recognize and appreciate our responsibility to feed our neighbors in need,” said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. “Along with Randalls, today’s donation allows us to further deliver on that promise by giving enough protein to place protein on thousands of dinner plates for those in Central Texas.”
Following today’s event, Helping Hungry Homes ® will visit Dallas on 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 the Central Texas Food Bank The mission of the Central Texas Food Bank is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in ending hunger. Founded in 1981, the Food Bank provides food and grocery products through a network of nearly 250 Partner Agencies and nutrition programs, serving nearly 46,000 people every week. Headquartered in Austin, the Food Bank serves 21 counties in Central Texas, an area about twice the size of Massachusetts. For more information on the Food Bank and its programs, visit centraltexasfoodbank.org.
About Randalls Randalls operates 44 stores in the Houston and Austin areas and is part of Albertsons Companies; 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.
Media Contacts: Dalton Agency for Smithfield Kaytee Allaben (904) 226-9890 kallaben@daltonagency.com Central Texas Food Bank Paul Gaither (512) 684-2528 pgaither@centraltexasfoodbank.org Randalls Diana Van Winkle (713) 268-3409 diana.vanwinkle@safeway.com
