Tops, Smithfield ‘Race’ to Donate Protein

In honor of the Smithfield No. 43 car competing in a Watkins Glen, N.Y., race, Smithfield donated a combined 40,000 pounds of protein to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier. Tops Markets LLC, a Smithfield retail partner and longtime supporter of the food bank, participated in the Aug. 9 donation event, which took place at its Watkins Glen store.

“Each week, over 11,000 individuals visit a hunger-relief member agency served by the Food Bank of the Southern Tier,” noted Natasha Thompson, president and CEO of the Elmira, N.Y.-based organization, which distributes food and other groceries to the needy through a network of more than 160 member agencies in upstate New York’s Broome, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga and Tompkins counties. “This donation is a great addition to the menu for those we serve.”

“Tops’ community mission is focused on helping to eradicate hunger,” said Frank Curci, president and CEO of Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops. “Especially now, it’s more important than ever to help our neighbors who are trying hard to make ends meet.”

“Smithfield has made more than 165 donations across the country under the company’s ‘Helping Hungry Homes’ program to food banks that serve their communities through local and emergency food pantries, low-income day care centers and disaster-relief agencies,” observed Dennis Pittman, director of corporate communications and public affairs for the Virginia-based company, among whose primary lines of business are fresh pork, smoked meats, bacon, cooked hams and hot dogs for retail, foodservice and deli channels.

In January 2008, Smithfield established Helping Hungry Homes initiatives to help provide needy American families with food.