For one in seven people in the Delmarva Peninsula, hunger is a very real struggle.

Nearly 42,000 people, 23% of the population, in northeast North Carolina do not have regular access to enough food for a healthy, active lifestyle, including one in four children, according to the food bank.

The donation included $14,503 in contributions from IPPE, Hawkins Inc. and WATT Global Media, with an additional $3,422 provided through a contribution from Expo Auctions and $12,075 by numerous individual donations.

Smithfield unites University of Virginia and Virginia Tech for community outreach events to help neighbors experiencing hunger.

The donation, which included hams, bacon, lunch meat and smoked sausage, is part of Smithfield’s Helping Hungry Homes program.

Scholarships will recognize the extraordinary contribution of several past Chairs of the Maple Leaf Foods' Board of Directors, including David Emerson, Wallace McCain, Purdy Crawford and W. Geoffrey Beattie.

Now is the time to become a "smart shopper" by consulting flyers for specials, creating and sticking to a budget and shopping list, looking for substitutes for expensive foods or freezing meat when it comes on sale.

Free protein was distributed to tribal nations near the company’s U.S.-based poultry facilities.