When Pat Giguere of Windham first unwrapped the Smithfield marinated pork loin last January, she threw the packaging away. After all, she and her husband enjoyed the pork dinner weekly so she had read the label a number of times.
But something – the thought of a missed coupon, perhaps – made her fish the plastic from the trash and check out the extra sticker, which read, “Cook up Your Dream Kitchen.” Giguere followed their instructions and went online to enter the code number at the Smithfield Web site.
When she received an email mid-April from Smithfield saying she had won their $25,000 kitchen makeover from Lowe’s, she called immediately to verify. But even after she spoke with the company she had her doubts. “I’m one of those people,” she said. “I’m lucky if I get my dollar back on a scratch ticket.”
So she contacted the company through their Web site and, within 15 minutes, received a call confirming her grand prize winning entry.
“This is the first time we’ve done the promotion,” said Thomas Darden, Smithfield’s national sales manager. “We’ve gotten a lot of positive consumer feedback.”
And Wednesday at Hannaford in Windham, Darden presented Giguere with a certificate for her $25,000 kitchen makeover. In addition, Giguere and Kenneth Stimson of Remnant Food Ministry each received a surprise gift of 100 pounds of Smithfield Lean Generation Pork.
Remnant Food Ministry was selected because of their commitment to providing food to approximately 5,000 people weekly in the area. Stimson, who pastors South Windham Community Church, said they receive food donations daily from Hannaford and other area stores.
“We feel it’s the Lord’s ministry,” said Stimson. “I set my ministry room up like a farmers market. People can come and take what they need.”
Hannaford has supported the ministry with food donations for almost 20 years. “As a company, Hannaford prides itself on being a good neighbor,” said Cindy Hakala, Hannaford’s store manager. “We offer our congratulations to Ms. Giguere and are pleased to have the opportunity to recognize the Remnant Ministry for the essential role they play in our community.”
As for the Gigueres, they can hardly believe their good fortune. “I don’t know what to say,” Patricia said during the presentation. “I know it’s real because I’m here.”
On a recent trip the couple took to Lowe’s up in Auburn, they were overwhelmed by all the new features of today’s kitchen appliances.
With so much to choose from, they’re not even sure what to get first. But maybe it should be a freezer for all that pork.
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