Hannaford, Carando Treat Big Brothers Big Sisters

Hannaford Supermarkets and Carando Classic Italian Meats provided food for the Big Brothers Big Sisters annual holiday party in Portland, Maine, where more than 100 children, volunteers and staffers enjoyed a festive meal of Carando premium hams, green beans, macaroni and cheese, and pumpkin pie.

The celebration was part of a continuing campaign, Carando Cares, which helps local communities in the New England area. Previous program efforts include serving lunch to Springfield, Mass., firefighters; providing Easter dinner for patients at the Shriners Hospital for Children-Boston; and delivering hams to every Boston fire station.

The Dec. 4 party in Portland marks the second time Carando Cares has supported the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine. Last summer, the Lisle, Ill.-based John Morrell Food Group brand, also in partnership with Delhaize America banner Hannaford, treated members of the organization to a picnic lunch and a minor-league baseball game.

"Carando and Hannaford are again proving to be real friends to kids in our program," noted Big Brothers Big Sisters Executive Director Sam Beal. "This holiday party would be difficult for us to provide, if not impossible, without their generosity."

"Helping children to celebrate the holidays with a feast is a real treat for all of us here at Hannaford," added Eric Blom, spokesman for the Scarborough, Maine-based grocer, which operates 187 stores in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Carando Cares plans to hold additional events throughout 2014 and 2015.

Both Carando and John Morrell Food Group are owned by Virginia-based Smithfield Foods.