Food Lion Feeds Presents Seventh Annual Carolinas Student Hunger Drive to Feed Local Families

Six-Week High School Food Drive Competition Expected To Reach 1 Million Pound Goal 

"We are excited to work with these students and Carolina's Student Hunger Drive to provide food for customers and other families who need it the most"

After seven years of collecting thousands of pounds of food for greater Charlotte area families, Food Lion and the Carolinas Student Hunger Drive participants are expected to collect 1 million pounds of food. 

More than 200 high school students will gather at 6 p.m., Oct. 3 at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina at 500-B Spratt St., in Charlotte, N.C., to kick off the friendly high school food drive competition that will last for the next six weeks.

“Since 2010, our participating high school students have collected nearly 800,000 pounds of food to support Second Harvest Food Bank and their regional food pantry partners,” said Mona Lita Carr, executive director of Carolinas Student Hunger Drive. “The students’ commitment to servant-leadership and volunteering is both remarkable and inspiring. Seventeen high schools will compete for more than $12,000 in cash and awards."

The Carolinas Student Hunger Drive competition will run from Oct. 3–Nov.14 and Food Lion has been the presenting sponsor.

"We are excited to work with these students and Carolina's Student Hunger Drive to provide food for customers and other families who need it the most," said Dave Bass, vice president of the Mid-Atlantic region for Food Lion. "Food Lion is working to create a better tomorrow by uniting with customers and partners to eliminate the choices families are forced to make when they are hungry. By the end of 2020, the company has pledged to provide 500 million meals to families in need in its local communities."

In addition to serving as the presenting sponsor, Food Lion will support the “The Food Lion MVP Award,” to be given to the student who exemplifies extraordinary leadership during the Carolinas Student Hunger Drive campaign.  This winning student will be someone who goes above and beyond in planning, executing and promoting the mission of the Carolinas Student Hunger Drive on their campus and in the surrounding community. The student will receive a $500 scholarship.

Additional Student Hunger Drive related events are as follows:

Friday, Oct. 7 -  Thursday, Oct. 13
Online Voting Facebook Talent Competition

Saturday, Oct. 15, 8 a.m.
Food Lion FEEDS Fast Feet Challenge
3207 Eastway Drive
Charlotte N.C. 28205

Four students from top schools will have 90 seconds to fill their grocery carts with food that will count toward their school’s total final pounds. Students, mascots, bands and cheerleaders are all encouraged to attend to cheer on their friends!

Nov 8, 9 and 10 ALL DAY
Loading Days: Food collected during the six-week drive will be boxed and transported to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina

Monday, Nov. 14, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Awards Rally at Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina

About Carolinas Student Hunger Drive
For more information on Student Hunger Drive or student events and activities, please visit www.shdcarolinas.org

The Student Hunger Drive is a unique non-profit organization founded in Davenport, Iowa in 1986 to engage high school students in service learning projects that benefit the community. With chapters across the country, The Student Hunger Drive has collected and donated more than 15 million pounds of food valued at more than $25 million since its inception.

Locally, the Charlotte-based Carolinas Student Hunger Drive was founded in 2010 and has already collected just under 800,000 pounds of food for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina and its regional food pantry partners, providing more than 530,000 meals for hungry children and families in our community. Each fall, the Carolinas Student Hunger Drive organizes a 6-week competitive food drive in partnership with area high schools.
 
About Food Lion
Food Lion, based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, has more than 1,000 stores in 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states and employs more than 65,000 associates. By leveraging its longstanding heritage of low prices and convenient locations, Food Lion is working to own the easiest full shop grocery experience in the Southeast, anchored by a strong commitment to affordability, freshness and the communities it serves. Through Food Lion Feeds, the company has committed to provide 500 million meals to individuals and families in need by the end of 2020. Food Lion is a company of Delhaize America, a U.S. division of Amsterdam-based Royal Ahold Delhaize Group. For more information, visit www.foodlion.com.

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Contact:

Benny Smith, Food Lion: 704-310-4077; blsmith@foodlion.com; Mona Lita Carr, Carolinas Student Hunger Drive: 980-307-3884; mona_lita@shdcarolinas.org