Meat+Poultry - September 2023 - 80

GIVING BACK
Smithfield Foods and Kroger
Two companies that are no strangers to
helping their neighbors, Smithfield Foods
Inc. and Kroger, partnered to feed Central
Virginians with 30,000 lbs of protein. The
donation was given to Feed More, which
works within the community to provide
targeted hunger relief programs for
students, children and individuals.
" We're humbled by Smithfield and
Kroger's steadfast commitment to our
mission and the neighbors we serve, " said
Aaron McClung, chief development officer
at Feed More. " Summer is a challenging
time for families with school-aged
children, and without access to school
meals, the thousands of kids and their
families who rely on these programs often
look to food assistance from Feed More
and our partners. The impact of inflation
over the last year has made this summer
even more difficult for families. Because of
Smithfield and Kroger's generous support,
we're able to provide food assistance to
these neighbors in their time of need. "
Since 2008, Smithfield has given back
to the community through its hunger
relief program, Helping Hungry Homes,
providing hundreds of millions of servings
of protein to all 50 US states
as well as to Poland, Romania
and Mexico. Renewing its
commitment to fight food
insecurity, Smithfield Foods has
pledged to donate rougly 200
million servings of protein by
2025.
A partnership
between Kroger
and Smithfield
Foods addresses
food insecurity.
Perdue Farms
Perdue Farms' foundation, Delivering
Hope to Our Neighbors, recognized the
work of The Haitian Development Center
of Delmarva Inc. in Salisbury, Md. The
center serves Haitian parents in activities
like enrolling their children in school,
interpretation and document translation as
well as by providing an after-school program.
Through the Franklin P. and Arthur W.
Perdue Foundation and its Delivering Hope
to Our Neighbors initiative, the company
presented the center with a $10,000 grant.
The grant will help pay for the
after-school program, Brights and
Futures, which hosts students to work on
homework and improve learning skills
with the help of a program coordinator
and college student tutors. Grades
three through eight are welcome, and
transportation and dinner are offered.
80 MEAT+POULTRY | 09.23 | www.meatpoultry.com
" It is quite evident that the majority of
our Haitian students have had to struggle
with a new education system, " said Rev.
Roosevelt Toussaint, the development
center's executive director. " Our overall
goal is to help our Haitian students
succeed in their education experience. "
Last year, Brights and Futures held
74 after-school sessions and provided
transportation 148 times and 2,088 meals
to students and faculty.
" The center is such a valuable resource
for Haitian parents and their children, "
said Kim Nechay, executive director of
the Perdue Foundation. " The after-school
program makes it easier for students to
acclimate to US schools and improve their
grades. We're happy to support the good
work of those at the Haitian Development
Center, " she said.
Kroger expresses similar
values with its Zero Hunger, Zero
Waste initiative, which works to
build a resilient, equitable and
sustainable food system.
CKE Restaurants
Since Memorial Day, CKE
Restaurants, the parent
company of Hardee's
and Carl's Jr., raised
funds for veterans and
military families. Its
annual Stars for Heroes
fundraising campaign
supports partner nonprofit
organizations that
help military veterans and
their families.
One of their partners,
USA Cares, provides skills
training and financial
assistance for post-9/11
veterans and families.
The Stand Up and Play
Foundation - another
partner organization -
provides adaptive sports
equipment as well as
engagement opportunities
for veterans.
This year, CKE
extended its Stars for
Heroes campaign by
a month due to the
momentum of funds
pooling in. In total, the
company raised more
than $1 million through
the event.
" We have seen such
tremendous support
of the Stars for Heroes
campaign at Carl's Jr.
and Hardee's locations
across the country,
and we are excited to
extend the campaign to
raise additional funds
for veterans in need, "
said Christopher Bode,
chief operating officer
of CKE Restaurants.
" Veterans are an important
part of our community at
CKE Restaurants, and this
is just one way we show
our gratitude and give
back, " he said.
Smithfield Foods Inc.
http://www.meatpoultry.com
Meat+Poultry - September 2023

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