COLUMBIA, S.C., Oct. 16, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In the wake of the devastation caused by recent catastrophic floods in South Carolina, the Harvest Hope Food Bank, whose mission is to provide for the needs of hungry people by gathering and sharing quality food with dignity, compassion and education, continues to organize disaster-relief efforts in Columbia, S.C., and has an ongoing need for donations.

As a contribution to these enduring relief efforts, Smithfield is bringing a 41,000-pound protein donation to the Harvest Hope Food Bank in Columbia. This sizable donation is part of Smithfield’s Helping Hungry Homes program, a coast-to-coast effort to help families and individuals become more food secure.

“We are so very grateful for the fantastic donation from Smithfield Foods to Harvest Hope Food Bank.  This is an important donation that will help disaster victims receive the essential protein they need,” said Denise Holland, CEO of Harvest Hope Food Bank. “This is a great complement to the shelf stable items we are providing to disaster victims through the various service delivery methods assuring that victims will not experience hunger as they repair their homes.”

“Cleaning and rebuilding communities after nature’s disasters takes substantial time and effort. When we heard reports of how devastating these floods were, we immediately orchestrated this truckload of protein to support the ongoing aid efforts in the affected areas,” said Dennis Pittman, Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs for Smithfield.  “We commend all of the companies who have made contributions and, especially, the first responders and individuals who have tirelessly volunteered their time and resources to lend a hand to their local communities and neighbors in need.”

Harvest Hope Food Bank serves individuals and 500 member agencies in 20 counties of South Carolina all working not only during this disaster but throughout the year to prevent and stop hunger.

To learn how you can contribute to Harvest Hope Food Bank, please visit www.harvesthope.org.

About Harvest Hope
Harvest Hope Food Bank serves 20 counties across South Carolina with a mission of providing hunger relief with dignity, compassion and education to people in need.  Harvest Hope is a non-profit organization with food banks in Columbia, Florence and Greenville, SC.  For more information please visit www.harvesthope.org.

About Smithfield
A leading provider of high-quality pork products, Smithfield was founded in 1936 in Smithfield, Virginia, establishing the town as the “Ham Capital of the World.” From hand-trimmed bacon to slow-smoked holiday hams, Smithfield brings artistry, authenticity and a commitment to heritage, flavor, and handcrafted excellence to everything it produces. With a vast product portfolio including smoked meats, hams, bacon, sausage, and fresh pork cuts, the company services retail, foodservice, and deli channels across the Unites States and 30 countries abroad. All of Smithfield’s products meet the highest quality and safety standards in the industry. To learn more about how Flavor Hails from Smithfield, please visit www.Smithfield.com, www.Twitter.com/SmithfieldBrand, and www.Facebook.com/CookingWithSmithfield. Smithfield is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

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®, Farmland®, Armour®, Cook’s®, John Morrell®, Gwaltney®, Nathan’s Famous®, Kretschmar®, Margherita®, Curly’s®, Carando® and Healthy Ones®. 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.

CONTACT: Media Contacts:

Hunter PR for Smithfield
Melody Palatucci
(212) 679-6600
[email protected] 

Smithfield
Diana Souder
(757) 357-1675
[email protected]

Harvest Hope Food Bank
Ash Little
(803) 466-2250
[email protected]