Smithfield To Donate 10 Million Pounds Of Protein To Food Banks

Smithfield Foods announced on Monday that it will donate millions of pounds of food to food banks across the country.

As food lines stretch for miles in many U.S. cities, due in part to COVID-19 related layoffs, food banks are struggling to keep up with the increased demand.

Dakota News Now reports the company will donate 10 million pounds of protein or the equivalent of more than 40 million servings.  This is part of the newly launched 'Great Food Challenge' campaign.

This comes one day after the Virginia-based and Chinese owned company closed down its Sioux Falls processing plant to control a COVID-19 outbreak among the workers.

Smithfield's Sioux Falls facility employs about 3700 people, making it one of Sioux Falls' largest employers.  It also processes about five percent of pork in the country, according to the company.

Dakota News Now reports the donation is valued at more than $30 million.  The company has donated more than $3 million of in-kind contributions previously announced as part of Smithfield’s COVID-19 response.