Amy Lotven Herald Staff Writer

Contributed Photo | Daily Herald Smithfield's Family Dream Vacation contest winner Vernon Alston of Littleton and the Rev. Ron Weeks, executive director of Union Mission, stand in front of a rubber boat full of Smithfield pork at the Littleton Piggly Wiggly Wednesday morning. Smithfield donated 100 pounds of meat to both Alston and the Mission as part of the grand prize. Advertisement

LITTLETON - Vernon Alston last year entered a national contest sponsored by Smithfield Foods, hoping to win the deck of his dreams. Instead, he and 10 of his friends and family members will soon be sunning themselves on the deck of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

He is the grand prize winner in Smithfield's Family Dream Vacation contest. Next April, the Alston family, as well as a childhood friend and his new wife, will be enjoying an eight-day, seven-night cruise to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

Alston, his wife Carolyn and other family members were on hand Wednesday at the Piggly Wiggly grocery store in Littleton, where Alston purchased the winning spiral ham, and representatives from Smithfield and the grocery store presented him with cruise-related items.

As Alston and his family stood smiling with colorful leis draped around their necks, officials gave him yet another surprise: A boat load of pork.

Staff had filled an inflatable rubber boat with 100 pound of tenderloins and other products.

“I'm going to have to fire up the grill!” Alston said. He plans to have a party with the meat, and will probably donate a portion to needy people in his neighborhood.

In fact, a good deal of needy people will benefit from Alston's luck.

As part of the Consumer Loyalty Program, Smithfield always donates to a charity operating in the community in which the winner resides.

For Alston, Smithfield donated an additional 100 pounds of meat to the Union Mission.

“I feel ... wow,” the Rev. Ron Weeks, executive director of the Union Mission, said about the gift. One hundred pounds of fresh pork, especially when the pantries are low, is wonderful for the Mission.

Yelena Schekhovtisova, marketing executive manager for Smithfield, explained the contest.

The company put codes on certain products and customers then went to the Web site and typed it in to enter the contest.

After three months, there was a drawing. One of the prizes was a new deck, but the grand prize was the cruise.

“(Alston) happened to be the lucky one out of 25,000 people,” she said.

Alston and Weeks both thanked Smithfield - and Piggly Wiggly - for their generosity.