A statewide effort to call attention to the Mississippi Military Relief Fund by Polk’s Meat Products of Magee is in its final days and will wrap up by July 15.

For every UPC barcode from a Polks, Red Rose or Magnolia product turned in through July 15, Polk’s will donate a portion of its sales to the relief fund. Since mid-May, nearly 200 participating supermarkets across the state have been collection points for the UPC bar codes.

“We’ve had great response so far,” said company chairman John Polk. “The effort really has gone beyond our company as a number of other organizations from church groups to the Mississippi Chapters of the Military Order of the Purple Heart have made this one of their projects as well.”

The fund, established by the Mississippi Legislature in June 2005, assists Mississippi families that experience a financial hardship as a result of a family member who is a member of the Mississippi National Guard or the U.S. Armed Forces Reserves being called to active duty as a result of acts of terrorism.

Since the program’s inception, more than 125 families have received assistance from the relief fund for needs including house payments, utilities, school supplies, insurance and food, among others.

The emergency needs of eligible families are considered on a case-by-case basis and the fund is supported completely by donations.

“Thousands of Mississippi military reservists are serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations overseas and many family members are left behind to carry on, often experiencing a financial hardship as a result,” said Polk. “Even if individuals don’t support the fund through our efforts, they can still support the fund with a direct donation.”

To make a donation to the fund, visit https://www.ms.gov/msng/faq.jsp. Individuals may also contribute to the fund by making checks payable to the State Treasurer/Military Relief Fund, and mailing to the State Treasurer’s Office, P.O. Box 138, Jackson, MS39205-0138.

Shoppers can find a list of retailers across Mississippi who sell Polk’s meat products by visiting www.reallysmokin.com .

About Polk’s Meat Products

Polk’s Meat Products Inc., the largest family-owned meat processing company in Mississippi, manufactures and distributes products for retail and food service outlets in markets from Atlanta to Dallas and New Orleans to Chicago. With 116 employees in its manufacturing facility in Magee, Miss., the company’s core brands include Polk’s, Magnolia, and Red Rose. For more information regarding Polk’s Meat Company and products, visit www.polksmeat.com .