Smithfield Foods Provides 2,000 Free Holiday Hams to Virginia and North Carolina Families in Need
SMITHFIELD, Va., Dec. 13, 2024 — Smithfield Foods distributed 2,000 free Smithfield Hickory Smoked Spiral Sliced Hams to neighbors facing hunger in Southeastern Virginia and Southeastern North Carolina this holiday season. Addressing hunger in local communities is a top priority for Smithfield, especially during the holiday season.
Smithfield hosted two food distribution drive-through events in Smithfield, Virginia, and Kenansville, North Carolina, on Friday, Dec. 13. Over 80 Smithfield employees volunteered to hand out 1,000 holiday hams at each event.
Smithfield partnered with Kroger for the event in Smithfield, Virginia, while Food Lion supported the Kenansville, North Carolina, event. Each partner provided 1,000 grocery bags filled with seasonal side dishes to accompany the Smithfield hams, allowing families to enjoy a complete holiday meal.
“Addressing hunger in our local communities is a top priority for Smithfield, especially during the holiday season when many families and individuals are facing food insecurity,” said a Smithfield spokesperson. “We’re grateful to Kroger and Food Lion for helping us bring hope and support to our neighbors during this special time.”
“Giving back to the community is a key part of our mission,” said a representative from Kroger Mid-Atlantic. “We’re grateful to play a role in easing the burden for families during the holidays and helping to fill their tables.”
Food Lion also expressed their commitment to the community. “We believe no one should have to choose between dinner and rent. We’re honored to partner with Smithfield Foods for this event, and through our Food Lion Feeds initiative, we know that our efforts will help our neighbors who are experiencing hunger,” stated a Food Lion official.
Smithfield collaborated with local food banks during these events to encourage families facing food insecurity to collect a free holiday meal. In Smithfield, the company worked with the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, while the Kenansville event partnered with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina.
Smithfield’s hunger relief program, Helping Hungry Homes®, has provided hundreds of millions of servings of protein across all 50 U.S. states since its inception in 2008. This year alone, Smithfield donated over 30 million servings of protein to food banks, disaster relief efforts, and community outreach programs across the United States. The company has pledged to donate 200 million servings of protein by 2025.
With such initiatives, Smithfield Foods continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting local communities.
