In early December, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, the Charlotte, North Carolina region's largest food bank and food rescue agency, received a donation of 25,000 pounds of meat to help feed 100,000 local families, thanks to a partnership between Food Network celebrity Chef Jeff Henderson, Harris Teeter and Smithfield Foods' Helping Hungry Homes™ initiative.

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 following natural disasters. Earlier this year, the Hungry Homes initiative tour distributed 250,000 pounds of meat products to food banks in 10 of the nation's largest cities, furnishing one million servings of protein to needy families.

"Our goal is to get as much food to as many needy families as possible," said Chef Jeff. "I am proud to be associated with Harris Teeter and my partners at Smithfield who are helping me deliver enough food to serve thousands of families in the Charlotte region. The days and weeks leading up to Christmas are some of the most difficult financially, even in the best of times. In these tough times, when people are losing their jobs, they need all the help they can get."

Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina (SHFBM) strives through education, advocacy, and partnerships to eliminate hunger by the solicitation and distribution of food. The nonprofit organization provides a regional distribution warehouse and branches that supply food and grocery items to charitable agencies that assist people in need. It also provides training, consultation, technical assistance and hunger education to their partner agencies. "On behalf of the 360,000 people living in poverty in our 14-county region, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina is so appreciative of the generosity of Smithfield in donating 25,000 pounds of meat products just in time for the holidays," said Kay Carter, Executive Director of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. "Thanks to Chef Jeff, Harris Teeter and Smithfield, the holidays will be much brighter for so many in need in our community."

A week later, for the second time in less than a year, Smithfield Foods and celebrity cook Paula Deen came to the assistance of America's Second Harvest in Deen's hometown of Savannah, Georgia, with a delivery of 25,000 pounds of meat as part of the Helping Hungry Homes™ initiative. The donation amounts to 100,000 servings of protein for hungry families.

"Americans today are facing the greatest challenges with this recession," said Deen. "I am grateful that my partners, Smithfield Foods, share my passion to help those who are struggling to feed their families. It is our obligation to do whatever we can to help families with the basics like getting food on the table."

Since January, Helping Hungry Homes™ has now donated almost 70,000 pounds of meat to the America's Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia. "Our communities have been hard hit with the downturn of the economy," said Mary Crouch, executive director of America's Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia. “We are so grateful for the efforts of Smithfield Foods and our Savannah neighbor Paula Deen for coming through with this much needed delivery of meat."

"During tight economic times, those who have the least oftentimes suffer more," said C. Larry Pope, President and Chief Executive Officer of Smithfield Foods. "We welcome this opportunity to renew our commitment to feeding families with this donation."

America's Second Harvest is the nation's largest hunger-relief organization with 205 food bank members nationwide.

In March 2009, Smithfield Prod, our Romanian processing IOC, launched the charitable program "Food for Souls", which aims to provide fresh meat products to disadvantaged people in Timisoara, a large city in whose proximity Prod operates.

Two charitable organizations - House "Mother-Child" of the Federation Caritas Diocese of Timişoara and the charitable Evangelical Association "Jesus Hope of Romania" - were first to partner with Smithfield Prod and receives various fresh pork products. The list of possible beneficiaries of the program remains open and charitable associations are encouraged to join. "We initiated this local program trying to offer to as many disadvantaged recipients as possible fresh pork products. By including this program in the priority list for 2009, Smithfield Prod reaffirms its commitment to direct and meaningful support of the community in which we live and our business", said Morten Jensen, general manager of Smithfield Prod. "It is a duty and an honor for us to be able to provide this support disadvantaged people", he added.

The initiative was inspired by Smithfield Foods’ "Helping Hungry Homes™ program. Prod Smithfield is the largest slaughterhouse in Romania, with a capacity of 600 head per hour.