Food Lion Awards Feedys for Hunger Relief Efforts

At its second annual “Feedys” awards ceremony, held at company headquarters, Food Lion recognized individual associates and one of its stores, as well as food banks and community partners, for their work to eliminate hunger in the communities served by the Salisbury, N.C.-based grocer.

“At Food Lion, we believe no one should have to choose between dinner and rent, or gas and groceries, and we know today one in six Americans are struggling with that choice every day,” said President Meg Ham. “Our passion is helping to nourish and feed families through healthy, fresh, low-price groceries in the towns and cities we serve and shorten the lines at local food banks. Through this annual event, we will celebrate the local hunger heroes in our communities and honor those who are working to make sure no one goes hungry.”

Randy Havinga, a store associate in Huntersville, N.C., and Margaret Ellis, a corporate associate in Salisbury, each received the “Lion’s Pride” award for their outstanding skills in coordinating and motivating associates and volunteers for hunger-relief projects. Store 1041 from Wilmington, N.C., garnered the “Store That Roars” Award for its work in this area as well.

Also during the awards ceremony, an individual hunger hero, a corporation and a food bank partner of the year were honored, 30 local food banks received recognition for their years of partnership with the grocer, and the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation presented  Kids Café grants totaling $143,000 to 14 food banks.

Food Lion launched Food Lion Feeds, its hunger relief platform, in 2014 with a commitment to donate 500 million meals by 2020. So far, the company has contributed more than 290 million meals toward this goal. Food Lion Feeds runs the Summers Without Hunger, Holidays Without Hunger and Food Lion Feeds Apple Bag campaigns. In 2017, Food Lion bestowed five honorary in-store campaign awards on the stores that donated the most meals through these programs.

A company of Delhaize America, part of Ahold Delhaize, Food Lion has more than 1,000 stores in 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, employing 63,000-plus associates.