The Smithfield Hunger Relief Day brings baseball and the community together to fight food insecurity

SMITHFIELD, Va., Sept. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Smithfield^® partnered with the Norfolk Tides to bring more to the community than a fun day at the ballpark — it brought the community together to benefit the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore as a part of the Smithfield Hunger Relief Night at the Tides. As an extension of Smithfield's Helping Hungry Homes^® program, the brand donated over 26,000 pounds of protein — more than 105,000 servings — to the food bank to aid in hunger relief efforts for children, seniors and families. Baseball fans also rallied together to donate nonperishable food as they entered Harbor Park, with volunteers collecting more than 300 pounds of canned goods to benefit those fighting food insecurity locally.  

"Smithfield is proud to support the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore with this protein donation, and the community and our volunteers really stepped up to collect an incredible supply of nonperishable items," said Brendan Smith, chief marketing officer at Smithfield Foods. "We're honored to partner with the Norfolk Tides on this initiative to help fight food insecurity in our area."

The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore serves eleven cities and counties across Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore, where one in 10 neighbors are food insecure or living with hunger. With the help of hundreds of community organizations and pantry partners, the foodbank provided more than 20 million nutritious meals last year.

With one in five children in the U.S. experiencing food insecurity, hunger remains a serious issue in many communities, especially during summer months and the back-to-school season.

"The support Smithfield has provided for Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore is remarkable, from bringing the food drive initiative to us to providing much-needed center-of-the-plate protein," said Chris Tan, president & CEO, Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. "Smithfield has been a huge supporter of the local community in so many ways and we're thankful for their partnership."

"Being a part of the Smithfield Hunger Relief Night at the Norfolk Tides and hosting this incredible food drive shows how well our community bands together," said Joe Gregory, general manager, Norfolk Tides. "We're proud to partner with Smithfield to support the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore."

Smithfield's hunger relief program, Helping Hungry Homes^®, has provided hundreds of millions of servings of protein all 50 U.S. states since 2008. Smithfield donated nearly 28 million servings of protein to food banks, disaster relief efforts and community outreach programs across the U.S. in 2023 and has pledged to donate 200 million servings of protein by 2025.

About Smithfield
Smithfield^® isn't only a leading provider of high-quality pork products. We're a leading provider of the most important part of any meal: premium, high-quality meat. And we take our meat duties seriously. After all, the rest of the meal is just a side dish. Smithfield products were first introduced in 1936 in Smithfield, Virginia, by people who lived for the love of meat. Today, the Smithfield brand stands for craftsmanship, authenticity, and pure passion as we continue to give meat-lovers across the country the deliciousness they crave: our classic bacon, slow-smoked holiday hams, hand-trimmed ribs, marinated fresh pork, smoked meats, and even more meaty magic. All Smithfield products not only meet our customers' high flavor standards but also meet the highest quality and safety standards in the industry. All while being produced right here in the USA. To learn more about the Smithfield portfolio of products, please visit www.Smithfield.com and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formally known as Twitter). Smithfield^® is a brand of Smithfield Foods, Inc.

About Smithfield Foods 
Smithfield Foods is an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. With a diverse brand portfolio and strong relationships with U.S. farmers and customers, we responsibly meet demand for quality protein around the world. 

About Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore
Since 1981, the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore has proudly provided more than 400 million meals to our neighbors in need. Serving eleven cities and counties where one in ten neighbors are food insecure, we play a vital role in the fight against hunger by collecting, storing, and distributing nutritious food. In addition, we focus on long-term solutions towards self-sufficiency by addressing the root causes of hunger. Our mission is supported by a dedicated network of volunteers, generous donors, and compassionate community partners. Together, we strive to ensure that no one in our community goes to bed hungry. To learn more, visit foodbankonline.org or find us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and TikTok.

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SOURCE Smithfield Foods, Inc.