Smithfield Foods Inc. and Tops Friendly Markets donated nearly 40,000 pounds of protein to FeedMore WNY.
Smithfield’s contribution was part of the company’s 2019 Helping Hungry Homes donation tour. Helping Hungry Homes is Smithfield’s signature hunger-relief initiative focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure. The donation, equivalent to more than 150,000 servings of protein, will help families fight hunger across Western New York.
“We work to offer dignity, hope, and a brighter future by providing support and nutritious food to our neighbors in need,” said Anne McKenna, chief communications officer of FeedMore WNY. “This generous donation from Smithfield and Tops will go a long way to positively impact the lives of those we serve. We are grateful that those in need throughout Western New York will now have access to wholesome, nutritious protein.”
Representatives from Smithfield and Tops presented the donation to FeedMore WNY at an event at FeedMore WNY’s Food Bank Distribution Center. Members of each organization discussed food insecurity in the local community and the significance of this donation, which will provide protein throughout FeedMore WNY’s service area, reaching as many as 140,000 food insecure individuals across four counties.
“At Tops, we strive to continue finding ways to support our neighbors and make our communities a better place,” said Kristen Hanson, VP of center store and pharmacy of Tops. “Social responsibility and sustainability have always been at the core of our mission and we are proud to partner with Smithfield on this donation.”
This is the 30th large scale protein donation made by Smithfield to food banks across the country during its 2019 Helping Hungry Homes tour. Since the program’s inception in 2008, Smithfield has provided more than 130 million servings of protein to food banks, disaster relief efforts and community outreach programs nationwide.
“There is no limit to what can be accomplished when people come together to help others,” said Jonathan Toms, associate manager of charitable initiatives for Smithfield Foods. “At Smithfield Foods we are humbled to have the opportunity to work with groups, like Tops and FeedMore WNY, that share our same passion to serve. We hope that this donation will aid the community and help in the fight against hunger.”
Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and pork processor and hog producer. In the U.S., the company is a leader in numerous packaged meats categories.
Tops Markets LLC, headquartered in Williamsville, New York, operates 159 full-service supermarkets with five additional franchise stores in Western New York. As a grocery retailer in New York, northern Pennsylvania and western Vermont, and with the support of 14,000 associates, the core mission is to help our communities flourish.
FeedMore WNY offers dignity, hope and a brighter future by providing nutritious food, friendship and skills training to its Western New York neighbors in need. Through its Food Bank Distribution Center and partner hunger-relief agencies, as well as its Meals on Wheels and other targeted feeding programs, FeedMore WNY alleviates hunger and assists community members of all ages throughout Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties.
