LISLE, Ill. – Eckrich has teamed up with Operation Homefront on a project designed to donate up to $200,000 to military families. Eckrich, part of the John Morrell Food Group, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, plans to donate a portion from every purchase of specially marked products to Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency financial assistance to families of US service members and wounded soldiers.

"Eckrich is proud and humbled to partner with Operation Homefront to help support America's military families," said Joseph Sebring, president of the 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 No. 1 request that Operation Homefront receives from military families.

In addition to donating a portion of product sales, the two organizations will also host local-market events this spring and summer called Eckrich and Operation Homefront Military Family Thank You Days.
Kirk Herbstreit, analyst for ESPN's "College GameDay" and Eckrich spokesman, will help kick off the program on April 28 in San Antonio, Texas, headquarters of Operation Homefront. Herbstreit has served as Eckrich brand spokesman since 2008.

In addition to the kick-off in San Antonio, events will be held for military families in Dallas, Oklahoma City, Fort Riley, Kan., Nashville, Atlanta, Columbus, Ohio, and Bentonville, Ark.

"Military families truly sacrifice so much in honor of our country," said Iwonne Salvador, director of corporate relations at Operation Homefront. "To help our aid go even further, Operation Homefront is partnering with Eckrich to create strategic programs offering greater assistance."

"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."