Food Lion Aims to Donate 1M-plus Meals to Local Food Banks

Food Lion is seeking to raise more than 1 million meals for area food banks by teaming with shoppers during the grocery store chain’s annual “Hunger Has a Cure” campaign. Through Dec. 24, Food Lion customers can help relieve hunger locally during the holidays by donating money, nonperishable items and ready-made food boxes to Feeding America and its local member food banks.

“Families in the communities we serve are faced with making tough decisions, like whether to pay their rent or put food on their table,” said Beth Newlands Campbell, president of Salisbury, N.C.-based Food Lion. “Through our local food bank campaign, we hope to lessen the need for families in our communities to make those choices. We invite our customers to join us in donating 1 million meals, so that the holidays can be a little brighter for families who need a helping hand.”

To take part in the effort, customers can buy ready-made food boxes with cut green beans, instant oatmeal, macaroni and cheese, long-grain white rice, and garlic and onion pasta sauce, which can be purchased at Food Lion for $4.99 each. All stores have a designated food collection area for food boxes or other nonperishable items. Customers can also make a cash donation at checkout. All food donations remain in each local community, according to Food Lion.

So far in 2013, the grocer has donated more than 30 million meals to local food banks. In addition to “Hunger Has a Cure,” Food Lion also plans to provide thousands of holiday meals via turkey and ham donations in the communities it serves.

Food Lion, a company of Delhaize America, the U.S. division of Brussels-based Delhaize Group, operates more than 1,100 supermarkets in 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, employing approximately 57,000 associates.