More than 220 nonprofits that work to fight hunger and provide nutritional education across 10 states are benefiting from some $785,000 in grants from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation.
As part of the distribution, the foundation gave $165,000 to Feeding America to support child hunger programs. In addition, it awarded $50,000 matched by Food Lion Feeds, the Salisbury, North Carolina-based grocer’s hunger-relief platform, as part of a 10-year capital campaign to support Loaves and Fishes, a nonprofit serving Charlotte, North Carolina.
Organizations awarded grants can be found online.
“As part of our commitment to the towns and cities we serve, Food Lion takes pride in being active in the community,” said Adam Bass, VP of pricing for Food Lion and president of the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation.
“In addition to providing access to meals and meeting the increased demand for food, Food Lion Feeds also invests in innovative programs to address the underlying causes of food insecurity through grants provided by the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation. We are pleased to support our food bank partners and assist those experiencing hunger in our communities.”
The grants also help community feeding agencies create sustainable and transformative solutions to end hunger. This includes community gardens that provide space to grow fresh, healthy food. Other grants support mobile food pantries that allow access to food, regardless of transportation challenges, and cooking classes featuring recipes that are healthy and easy to make.
Since its inception in 2001, the foundation has donated more than $17.8 million across the company’s operating area. It has made sizable contributions to Food Lion Feeds, which has provided more than 1 billion meals since 2014. This has been achieved through a combination of product, financial and equipment donations; disaster relief and recovery efforts; volunteer hours by associates; in-store retail campaigns; and the company’s food rescue program.
The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation holds two grant cycles each year. The grant application deadline for the fall cycle is Sept. 14, and can be found online. Nonprofits are eligible for grants if affiliated with Feeding America or the United Way. Organizations are eligible to apply every 12 months.
