Paula Deen, Smithfield Foods pay visit to Second Harvest, donate more than 30,000 pounds of ham

Second Harvest North Florida welcomed Food Network star Paula Deen to its warehouse on Thursday, June 17, 2010 – in addition to the arrival of more than 30,000 pounds of ham, courtesy of Smithfield Foods and its “Helping Hungry Homes” initiative.

Deen, well known for the folksy Southern charm she displays on her television cooking show, is the spokesperson for the Smithfield program, which is designed to provide important, high-protein resources for families who are food insecure.  Donations are made through Feeding America – The Nation’s Food Bank Network, of which Second Harvest North Florida is a member.

The ham products received on Thursday will equate to more than 100,000 servings of protein – a key nutritional element that makes for healthy minds and bodies. Smithfield plans to donate and deliver more than 20 million servings of protein across the nation through its “Helping Hungry Homes” program, which began in 2008.

“Smithfield Foods is committed to hunger relief,” said Dennis Pittman, public affairs director for Smithfield. “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.” 

Deen braved the stifling heat on Thursday to help deliver pre-packaged hams and also took time to speak about her experiences of fighting food insecurity during a different time in her life.

“I have been so close to hunger before that I could smell it for my family.” Deen told the gathered crowd. “I have been in a position before where I needed that ham. Thank goodness my Aunt Peggy was there to help me. Thank goodness I had a helping hand back then.”

Deen said that while the more than 30,000 pounds of food donated in Jacksonville is significant, she knows that more is needed to help meet the needs of those families who are hurting.

Food Banks nationwide are reporting a 25 percent increase in the number of people coming to them for help.  Second Harvest North Florida has seen a 56 percent increase in food distributed over the last three years – which represents a direct response to demand.

The current recession and the continuing rise in unemployment are having a profound effect on food banks’ ability to meet the demand.  As a result, food assistance organizations across the country have been reporting over the past year that more individuals and families are turning to them for assistance including more first-time visitors, unemployed workers, employed individuals, seniors and families with children.

“I hope that we do will help make other people aware of this situation,” Deen said, “because America does have a problem. And it shouldn’t ever be in a country as rich as the United States of America.”

Publix, a longstanding retail partner of Smithfield, helped bring Smithfield and Deen to Jacksonville. Their representatives were present at the event as well.

Click here for more information about “Helping Hungry Homes”

Click here for more information about Paula Deen

Click here to view video from the event

Click here to view photos from the event

Media Coverage:
Action News story
First Coast News story
Jacksonville.com story