Eckrich, part of the John Morrell Food Group, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, announced a partnership with Operation Homefront, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides emergency financial assistance to the families of United States service members and wounded warriors. Through the partnership, Eckrich will donate a portion from every purchase of specially marked products to Operation Homefront, up to $200,000. And, to celebrate and honor military families nationwide, the two organizations will host local-market events this spring and summer.

"Eckrich is proud and humbled to partner with Operation Homefront to help support America's military families," said Joseph Sebring, president, John Morrell Food Group. "Creating special family moments is ingrained into our company's mission and values. That's why we're giving back and supporting this cause."

Food assistance is the #1 request that Operation Homefront receives from military families. As a food company, Eckrich felt it was its responsibility to help meet that need and has therefore partnered with Operation Homefront to provide support to military families through the formation of the Eckrich Food Assistance Fund.

The partnership is supported with a broader Eckrich marketing campaign that features television, radio, online and out-of-home advertising, as well as utilizing Facebook to further tell military families' stories via social media.

"We truly believe in this partnership and what it means to military families," said Charles Gitkin, vice president, marketing, innovation and R&D for the John Morrell Food Group. "Therefore, Eckrich and the John Morrell Food Group are proud to be investing more than $8 million toward this program to further raise awareness of military families' needs."

Source: Eckrich Meats