John Morrell Supports Great Plains Food Bank

John Morrell Food Group's work to fight hunger reached North Dakota. Together with Hugo's, the company donated 5,000 pounds of John Morrell ham to the Great Plains Food Bank, a program of Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota.

[caption id="attachment_24985" align="alignright" width="290"] (l-r): Erica Jensen, John Morrell Food Group; Dale Ebensteiner, Hugo's; Scott Van Camp, Hugo's; Tom Carriveau, Hugo's; Marcia Paulson, Great Plains Food Bank; Rick Dierker, Hugo's; and A.J. Miller, John Morrell Food Group[/caption] The event is a local complement to the company's commitment to Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign, a national organization working to end childhood hunger in America. John Morrell Food Group announced in October that it was joining parent company Smithfield Foods in supporting No Kid Hungry to ensure all children in America have the healthy food they need. "Today's event is just one step we're taking to fight hunger," says Chuck Gitkin, vice president of marketing and R&D, John Morrell Food Group. "Joining forces this fall with the No Kid Hungry campaign was a great step toward making a difference and getting children and families the food they need. And while it's a national epidemic, being able to get out into the Grand Forks community with a partner such as Hugo's will help us further those efforts and demonstrate John Morrell Food Group's commitment to the issue." One in 10 individuals seek emergency food assistance from the Great Plains Food Bank and their partner network of charitable feeding programs across North Dakota - 37% of them are children. Throughout the state, the No Kid Hungry campaign helps connect children in need to the nutritious food they need and empowers families with skills to prepare healthy and affordable meals. "Our food industry partners are instrumental in our work to end hunger," says Marcia Paulson, director of marketing and development for the Great Plains Food Bank. "The hams John Morrell donated to us today will be distributed as early as next week to children, seniors and families struggling with hunger, and for that we are so grateful."