Food City Aiding Paralyzed Vets

Marking four years of partnership, Food City and NASCAR legend Richard Petty are continuing the mission to raise funds for Paralyzed Veterans of America's Mission: ABLE campaign, which ensures veterans receive health care, benefits and jobs. This year, Smithfield, sponsor of the No. 43 Smithfield Ford, is joining the effort with special offers for customers during the fall campaign.

"Teaming up with Food City and Smithfield for the Mission: ABLE campaign is a natural fit for me, the Petty Family Foundation and what we believe in at Richard Petty Motorsports," said Petty. "It's our responsibility to give back and make a difference. And that's what we’re able to do through this campaign."

Under the chain-wide campaign, which runs from Aug. 30 through Oct. 11, specially marked $1, $3 and $5 donation slips will be available at checkout. Customers can choose the desired dollar amount to be added to their order total. All donations collected will go to Paralyzed Veterans of America, a congressionally chartered, nonprofit veterans service organization. Additionally, Smithfield will offer special coupons for customers who make donations at checkout.

"So many racing fans are loyal customers of Smithfield and shop at Food City, and the racing community is traditionally incredibly supportive of our military, so it makes sense to come together to benefit such an important cause," said Dennis Pittman, director of corporate communications and public affairs for Virginia-based Smithfield, whose well-known brands include Smithfield, Eckrich, Farmland, Armour, Cook's, Gwaltney, John Morrell, Kretschmar, Curly's, Carando, Margherita and Healthy Ones.

So far, Food City and its shoppers have helped raise more than $350,000 to benefit severely injured veterans and their families in local communities and across the country.

Abingdon, Va.-based, K-VA-T Food Stores Inc. operates 106 Food City grocery stores in the tri-state regions of southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee.