Utah Food Bank receives “important” protein donation

Smithfield Foods, the Utah Pork Producers Association (UPPA) and the Fredette Family Foundation have given 35,000 pounds of protein to Utah Food Bank as a way of supporting the “Points for Protein” campaign.

The donation (which is the  equivalent of 140,000 servings of protein) was celebrated by members of the BYU and Utah State football teams where they joined representatives from Smithfield Foods, the Jimmer Fredette’s Family Foundation and Utah Pork Producers Association.

Smithfield and UPPA committed to donating 50 pounds of protein to Utah Food Bank for each point scored by BYU and Utah State during the 2022-2023 football season. Over the season, the teams scored a combined 696 points, resulting in a donation of 35,000 pounds of protein.

The Utah Food Bank received donations comprised of ham, bacon, lunch meat and hot dogs, which will reportedly be distributed throughout the state via the food banks’ network of partner agencies.

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“Smithfield is committed to fighting food insecurity in our communities, and this donation will go a long way toward helping the food bank serve people who are facing hunger throughout Utah,” said Jonathan Toms, Senior Community Development Manager for Smithfield Foods.

Also commenting on the donation, Jim Webb, President of the Utah Pork Producers Association said: “We are grateful to the BYU and Utah State football teams and hope that this year’s sizable protein donation helps ease the burden and stress that hunger causes far too many Utah families.”

Stating that Utah Food Bank is “so grateful” for the “important donation of protein”, Ginette Bott, President and Chief Executive Officer of Utah Food Bank, explained that the foodstuff is “always requested but rarely donated”.

“We, and especially our clients, appreciate the support of UPPA and Smithfield, along with the Utah State and BYU football teams, for working so hard this season to help us fight hunger,” concluded Bott.