PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Philabundance, the region's largest food bank and food rescue agency, today received 10,000 pounds of meat to help feed local families, thanks to Smithfield Foods' 10-city Helping Hungry Homes(TM) Across America tour, an initiative led by celebrity cook Paula Deen. The tour's goal is to provide one million servings of meat to the nation's hungry families including those in Philadelphia, where one out of three children lives at or below the federal poverty line. Michael Groover, husband of Paula Deen and regular on Deen's Food Network shows, helped Philabundance volunteers unload a Smithfield Foods truck carrying 10,000 pounds of Sunnyland smoked sausage and franks and Lykes hot dogs. "Meat is a critical component in offering healthy and balanced food selections to families in the Delaware Valley that are challenged with food insecurity issues," said Martha Buccino, senior vice president of strategic development for Philabundance. "We want to thank Smithfield Foods and Paula Deen for making it possible for thousands of families to sit down to nutritious meals this week." The Smithfield Foods' Helping Hungry Homes tour began in Deen's hometown, Savannah, Ga., on Monday and will continue to New York, Atlanta, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans and Washington, D.C., before concluding in Detroit. Donations are being distributed in each city through local members of America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest hunger-relief organization. "Along with our partner Smithfield Foods, our goal is to get as much food to as many families as possible with the help of outstanding local organizations such as Philabundance," Groover said. "When Paula and I learned about the escalating problem of working families facing hunger in this country, we realized that we had to do something." Smithfield Foods' Helping Hungry Homes initiative was established to help ensure that American families in need do not go hungry. Smithfield Foods and its independent operating companies have a long history of stocking food banks, supporting after-school nutrition programs and providing food relief in the wake of natural disasters. This 10-city tour alone will distribute 250,000 pounds of meat products with an estimated retail value of over one million dollars. "Although Smithfield Foods has long been a supporter of hunger relief initiatives, we felt the need to help shine a spotlight on an ever-increasing problem for American families," said Dennis Treacy, vice president of environmental and corporate affairs for Smithfield Foods. "Providing hunger relief with Paula Deen through our Helping Hungry Homes initiative will remain a high priority throughout our family of companies," Treacy added. Philabundance was founded as a nonprofit food distribution system in 1984 to reduce food waste and fight hunger in the Delaware Valley. In 2005 Philabundance integrated with the Philadelphia Food Bank to become the region's largest hunger relief organization. Today Philabundance offers a full plate of services to Delaware Valley residents at risk of chronic hunger and malnutrition. Smithfield Foods is a global food company with operations in 13 countries through wholly owned subsidiaries and joint ventures. Headquartered in Smithfield, Va., the company produces more than 50 brands of pork, beef and turkey products and more than 200 gourmet foods. Employing more than 57,000 people across the globe, Smithfield Foods is the world's largest producer and processor of pork and a leader in turkey processing, cattle feeding and beef processing. DATASOURCE: Smithfield Foods CONTACT: Amy Richards of Charleston-Orwig, Inc., +1-262-563-5100, +1-513-899-9809, , for Smithfield Foods

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