Smithfield Foods employees contribute to Joplin tornado relief effort

(From Smithfield Foods)

Employees at Smithfield Foods and its independent operating companies in Missouri and elsewhere are lending a helping hand to the campaign aiding victims of last month's devastating tornado that killed 155 Joplin residents.


Farmland Foods, Premium Standard Farms and Murphy-Brown in Missouri, along with the Smithfield Packing Company in Virginia, are donating food, supplies and household items, particularly items needed for food preparation, to residents who lost their homes during the May 22 storm, which destroyed much of the city. Employees also are helping in the massive cleanup operation.

"Our employees said they wanted to do something to help their neighbors in Joplin because we care about our entire Missouri family," said C. Larry Pope, president and chief executive officer of Smithfield Foods. Farmland Foods, Premium Standard Farms and Murphy-Brown employees are working with local organizations to distribute the donated items.

Farmland Foods has teamed up with Walmart to provide 500 gift cards worth $50 each to Joplin families. Farmland also donated $15,000 to the American Red Cross to support its efforts in Joplin.

Murphy-Brown has provided two pallets of supplies to Joplin families, and the company's employees cooked 1,000 pork burgers donated by the Missouri Pork Producers Association to feed emergency personnel and volunteers. Murphy-Brown also has donated $1,500 to the American Red Cross, $1,500 to the Joplin Area YMCA for its Childcare Relief Fund and $2,000 for supplies and food for volunteer work groups. Employees will help with long-term volunteer work through opportunities presented by charitable organizations they are already involved with.

Premium Standard Farms donated pork to a local grassroots organization that sent volunteers to the area to cook for residents, and volunteers from the company are planning to support further cleanup efforts.

In addition, an entire truckload of meat products donated by Smithfield Packing arrived in Joplin on Friday, June 17.

Along with the donated household items and meat products, the Smithfield companies are coordinating an effort with the Joplin YMCA to provide free daycare service to tornado victims.

"This was a terrible tragedy, but with so many Missourians pitching in to help our friends and neighbors we're confident that Joplin will come back stronger than ever," Pope added.