Smithfield and the UFCW Donate 140,000 Servings of Protein to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin as Part of "Feeding the Hungry" Tour
Tour Donations Now Total 13.2 Million Servings
Milwaukee, Wis. - Food banks and nonprofits are facing record requests for services; making it challenging to source and provide protein. To help meet the high demands for essential protein, Smithfield, the Untied Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) and Roundy's Supermarkets will deliver 120,000 servings (30,000 pounds) of protein to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. Patrick Cudahy, a Smithfield company, will donate 20,000 servings (5,000 pounds) of additional protein.
"Donations of protein are vitally important to the food bank. Adding meat to a meal increases the intake of protein which we know is a key nutrient to help keep people healthy. We're appreciative that Smithfield and the UFCW understand the need to put protein on the table for people struggling with hunger in eastern Wisconsin," said Bonnie Belleheumer, president of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.
Feeding the Hungry is a joint program of the UFCW and Smithfield to deliver 20 million servings of protein over three years to food banks around the country. The partnership is designed to bring much needed assistance to the growing number of people struggling with hunger in our communities.
"Smithfield is proud to continue the second year of its hunger relief tour. We're well on our way to feeding 20 million people," said Dennis Pittman, Public Affairs Director for Smithfield. "We hope to continue to increase awareness and encourage individuals and companies to donate to their local food banks," said Pittman.
Joe Hansen, United Food and Commercial Workers Union International President, said, "Last year we fed over 6 million people. The UFCW is committed to ensuring that families across the country have the relief and opportunities needed to weather the current economic crisis."
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 economic disasters. In January 2008, Smithfield established its Helping Hungry Homes initiative to ensure that American families in need do not go hungry. Feeding the Hungry is one of Smithfield's Helping Hungry Homes initiatives.
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330,000 people in Wisconsin rely on Feeding American Eastern Wisconsin each year. The food bank is the largest, private non-profit distributor of food in the state. Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin distributes over 15 million pounds of food annually to 1,000 food pantries, meal programs and shelters throughout Wisconsin. Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is a member of Feeding America which is consistently ranked as one of the most efficient charities, out of the country's 100 largest charities, by Forbes magazine. Since 1982, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin has distributed more than 280 million pounds of food.
