Food City and seven-time NASCAR Champion, Richard Petty have once again teamed up to benefit Paralyzed Veterans of America’s Mission: ABLE campaign.  For more than six decades, Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans) has been on a mission to change lives and build brighter futures for our seriously injured heroes.  

“If there has been one partner that has really stepped up to help Paralyzed Veterans of America’s Mission: ABLE campaign, it’s Food City,” said Petty. “They have helped raise significant funds over the last four years and our goal is to raise even more this year – because the need is ongoing and we’re responsible for lending a hand.”

The Mission: ABLE campaign was designed to enlist Americans – citizens, communities and corporations – to help ensure our paralyzed heroes are provided the physical care needed to live a healthy life; receive the benefits they’ve earned through military service; and obtain job training and opportunities for new and fulfilling careers.

“Thanks to our loyal customers, we have raised over $450,000 in the last four years to benefit Paralyzed Veterans of America,” said Steven C. Smith, president and chief executive officer. “We’re proud to have another opportunity to team with Richard Petty and Paralyzed Veterans’ Mission: ABLE campaign in support of such a worthy cause.”

The campaign, which will be featured throughout the company’s retail supermarket chain, begins July 8, 2015 and continues through August 5, 2015. Customers wishing to make a contribution simply need to select the desired dollar amount - $1, $3, or $5 and it will be conveniently added to their order total.  100% of the donations collected will remain local and benefit Paralyzed Veterans within the region. 

In addition, Smithfield, Blue-Emu and Nature Blast, all partners of Richard Petty Motorsports, have joined the mission and will support the Food City Mission: ABLE campaign with special offers throughout the campaign this summer.

“Food City is a long-standing partner and friend of the Paralyzed Veterans of America family. Their dedication to our mission is unwavering and invaluable to our fundraising efforts to support veterans and their families,” said Al Kovach, Jr., national president of Paralyzed Veterans of America. “We are continually grateful for the opportunity to work with Food City, Richard Petty, Smithfield, Blue-Emu and Nature Blast, on this important campaign to ensure veterans receive what they’re owed and deserve.”

More than 44,000 American veterans live with paralysis. Spinal cord injuries can cost up to $3 million per person in health-care expenses, yet veterans’ benefits aren’t always guaranteed. An estimated $25 billion in veterans’ benefits dollars go unclaimed every year.  More than 85% of veterans with severe disabilities are currently unemployed. Paralyzed Veterans’ Mission: ABLE programs ensure they are able to receive the benefits they’ve earned, able to access the quality care they need to live a full life, able to get the job training and opportunities for new careers and able to enjoy competition and camaraderie through sports. For more information on Paralyzed Veterans of America or Mission: ABLE, visit their website at www.mission-able.com.

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc. currently operates 105 retail food outlets in the tri-state regions of Southeast Kentucky, Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.   

About Food City:
Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc. currently operates 105 retail food outlets in the tri-state regions of Southeast Kentucky, Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.  

About Paralyzed Veterans of America:
Paralyzed Veterans of America is the only congressionally chartered veterans service organization dedicated solely for the benefit and representation of veterans with spinal cord injury or disease. For nearly 70 years, we have ensured that veterans have received the benefits earned through their service to our nation; monitored their care in VA spinal cord injury units; and funded research and education in the search for a cure and improved care for individuals with paralysis.



As a partner for life, Paralyzed Veterans also develops training and career services, works to ensure accessibility in public buildings and spaces, provides health and rehabilitation opportunities through sports and recreation, and advocates for veterans and all people with disabilities. With more than 70 offices and 34 chapters, Paralyzed Veterans serves veterans, their families, and their caregivers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

About Smithfield
A leading provider of high-quality pork products, Smithfield was founded in 1936 in Smithfield, Virginia, establishing the town as the "Ham Capital of the World." From hand-trimmed bacon to slow-smoked holiday hams, Smithfield brings artistry, authenticity and a commitment to heritage, flavor, and handcrafted excellence to everything it produces.  With a vast product portfolio including smoked meats, hams, bacon, sausage, and fresh pork cuts, the company services retail, foodservice, and deli channels across the Unites States and 30 countries abroad. All of Smithfield's products meet the highest quality and safety standards in the industry. The company is a brand of Smithfield-Farmland, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods. To learn more about how Flavor Hails from Smithfield, please visit www.Smithfield.com and www.Facebook.com/CookingWithSmithfield.

About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $14 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Farmland®, Armour®, Cook's®, Gwaltney®, John Morrell®, Kretschmar®, Curly's®, Carando®, Margherita®, and Healthy Ones®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental, and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and www.smithfieldcommitments.com.

About Nature Blast
Nature Blast is a cutting-edge company that produces cleaning products for home and professional use, all of which are made in America and eco-friendly. All Nature Blast products adorn the ECO logo as certified green products, which address the environmental, safety and health concerns facing today’s households by offering products with low toxicity and VOC’s, readily bio-degradable in ready to use formulas. Nature Blast is a breath of fresh air for cleaning supplies and retail market. There are a lot cleaning product choices in the market today but so many are toxic and dangerous. Nature Blast’s current product line includes more than four different cutting-edge cleaning products for home and professional use. Now being sold in your favorite retail stores. For more information, visit www.natureblast.com.

About Blue-Emu
In January of 2014, Gregory Pharmaceutical Holdings, Inc. purchased NFI Consumer Products and rapidly took advantage of the Blue-Emu® following amongst consumers, and expanded their advertising to further accelerate the growth of the Blue-Emu® product line. In June 2014, Original Blue-Emu® Super Strength cream was recognized as the #1 selling over-the-counter muscle and joint cream in the United States. NFI has since expanded the Blue-Emu® product line to include Blue-Emu® Continuous Pain Relief Spray, Blue-Emu® Maximum Arthritis Pain Relief Cream and Blue-Emu® Anti-Itch Cream.

Today, NFI Consumer Products distributes the emu oil based Blue-Emu® products throughout the United States, primarily through mass merchandisers, supermarkets and drug stores. The company currently distributes the Blue-Emu® product line through various retailers representing over 35,000 retail outlets.