Food Lion Feeds and Local Colleges Make Meaningful Impact to Tackle Hunger

Sack to Give Back partnership helps provide 851,000 meals to increase access to nutritious food

SALISBURY, N.C., Dec. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of Food Lion Feeds’ partnership with 36 collegiate football teams, the teamwork helped provide 851,000 meals* to nourish neighbors experiencing hunger and make a meaningful impact. Through this collaboration to address food insecurity, Food Lion Feeds helped provide 1,000 meals* (up to 30,000 meals per team) for every quarterback sack made by the participating institution. The effort benefits Feeding America® partner food banks throughout Food Lion’s 10-state operating area. Food Lion Feeds was founded in 2014 by Food Lion to address food insecurity in the towns and cities it serves.

“Our partnership with collegiate football programs is one example of the power of collective action and how our efforts make a meaningful impact in the towns and cities we serve,” said Kevin Durkee, Manager, Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion. “By working together to help provide meals, we tackle food insecurity and ensure our neighbors and their families have access to fresh and nutritious food, setting them up for success in life.”

James Madison University led the season with 45 quarterback sacks, resulting in 45,000 meals for Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in Verona, VA. In addition, Food Lion Feeds also provided 2,000 meals for every quarterback sack made at the ACC Championship game between Florida State and Louisville on Dec. 2. As a result, 22,000 meals were provided to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina in Charlotte, NC.

“We are truly grateful for incredible community partners like Food Lion. With guest demand for food assistance on the rise, this support couldn’t come at a better time,” said Michael McKee, CEO, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

In 2023, Food Lion Feeds’ Sack to Give Back program expanded from 33 to 36 teams across Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. It benefited 19 Feeding America member food banks serving the communities where each school is located. Since 2019, the Sack to Give Back program has resulted in more than 3 million meals provided to local food banks across Food Lion’s 10-state footprint.

The Sack to Give Back campaign is one of many efforts that Food Lion Feeds leads in partnership with colleges. In addition to this collegiate effort, Food Lion Feeds also teams up with universities for its Score to Give More campaign, providing 100 meals* (up to 30,000 meals per school) for every free throw made by the participating institution.

The participating schools, season sacks and correlating food banks that benefit from each school’s efforts are:

Through Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion has helped to provide more than 1 billion meals to individuals and families since 2014 and has committed to donate 1.5 billion meals by 2025. For more information on Food Lion Feeds’ commitment to ending hunger, visit foodlion.com/feeds.

*$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America® on behalf of local partner food banks. The total meals provided for the season will increase due to upcoming playoffs, championships or bowl games.

**Food Lion Feeds provides up to 2,000 meals for every quarterback sack made in a playoff, championship or bowl game.

Editor’s note: The photos of check presentations do not represent the final results; they only recognize performance to date when the check presentation occurred.

About Food Lion
Food Lion is an omnichannel retailer committed to nourishing its neighbors during the moments that matter most. More than 82,000 associates across 1,100+ stores deliver an easy, fresh and affordable shopping experience throughout 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. Through its ‘Count on me’ culture, Food Lion fosters a sense of belonging for all associates, promoting a diverse and inclusive environment that has supported LGBTQ+ equality for nearly two decades. Food Lion is the only company in the country to be named an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for 22 consecutive years. It also pioneered a food rescue program to support food-insecure neighbors. Through Food Lion Feeds, the retailer has donated more than 1 billion meals to individuals and families since 2014 and has committed to donate 1.5 billion meals by 2025. Founded and based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, Food Lion is a company of Ahold Delhaize USA, the U.S. division of Zaandam-based Ahold Delhaize. For more information, visit foodlion.com.

About Feeding America
Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment.

We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/141e0bcc-9e9d-4a8e-994d-dd380bbb3432