A&P Takes Part in N.J. Stop of 'Feeding the Hungry' Tour

The Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (A&P) participated in last week’s delivery of 150 servings of protein to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey in Hillside. The delivery was part of a “Feeding The Hungry” coast-to-coast tour undertaken by Smithfield Foods, along with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Food Network celebrity Paula Deen and volunteers. The aim of the tour is to donate a total of more than 1.6 million pounds of protein, or over 6,400,000 servings annually, to help needy families and individuals.

The timing of such efforts is crucial, as food banks across the country are reporting a 46 percent increase in the number of people coming to them for assistance, in the wake of the recent recession and the resulting rise in unemployment. The greater numbers of food-insecure people are affecting food banks’ ability to help those who need it.

A&P took part in the program as a longstanding retail partner of Smithfield and a dedicated supporter of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

“Smithfield Foods is committed to hunger relief,” said Dennis Pittman, public affairs director at Virigina-based Smithfield, whose protein brands include Smithfield, Farmland, John Morrell, Armour and Cook’s. “We felt the need to help shine a spotlight on an ever-increasing problem for American families. Providing hunger relief will continue to remain a priority.”

“Feeding the Hungry” is just one of the vendor’s “Helping Hungry Homes” initiatives. Smithfield established Helping Hungry Homes to help ensure that American families in need won’t go hungry.