Food Lion Feeds and Customers Team Up to Increase Access to Nutritious Food
March 28 2024 - 9:30AM
Food Lion has a history of supporting communities and has helped to
provide more than 18.3 million meals* with the support of its
customers through its sixth annual Food Lion Feeds Orange Bag
campaign. By providing access to nutritious food through this
initiative, the collective effort helps address food insecurity and
nourish neighbors who are experiencing hunger. The Orange Bag
campaign benefits Feeding America®, the nation’s largest domestic
hunger-relief organization, and local partner food banks throughout
Food Lion’s 10-state operating area. Since the Food Lion Feeds
Orange Bag campaign began in 2019, customers have helped to provide
more than 25 million meals* through the sale of the specially
marked orange bags and cash donations. Food Lion Feeds was founded
in 2014 by Food Lion to address food insecurity in the towns and
cities it serves.
As a result of inflation, individuals and families are
experiencing unforeseen financial adversity and food insecurity,
causing many to seek food assistance for the first time. According
to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual report, Household
Food Security in the United States in 2022, food-insecure
households in the United States increased to 44 million, including
13 million children. That means 1 in 7 individuals – with 1 in 5
being children – don’t know how they’ll afford their next meal.
Food Lion Feeds’ partnership with Feeding America ensures neighbors
have access to nutritious food.
“After seeing a 31% increase in 2022, the food insecurity rate
is the highest it’s been since 2014,” said Lauren Biedron, Senior
Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, Feeding America. “It’s
clear that more needs to be done to achieve a food-secure future
for everyone, which is why we are grateful for our dedicated
partners, like Food Lion, and their ongoing commitment to the
movement to end hunger.”
The Orange Bag campaign ran from Feb. 28 – March 19, during
which customers purchased specially marked Food Lion Feeds orange
bags or made cash donations at the register during checkout at Food
Lion stores. In this campaign, customers had the option to use
digital keypads at checkout to donate a specific dollar amount or
round up their purchases to support the cause.
“Every cash donation and orange bag purchase make a lasting
impact to help nourish our neighbors,” said Kevin Durkee, Manager,
Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion. “Working in collaboration with our
partner food banks, we are honored to support their efforts to
address food insecurity. We are committed to doing our part because
everyone deserves access to nutritious food.”
Through Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion has helped to provide more
than 1.2 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. Through the Orange Bag
campaign, $0.50 (monetary equivalent of five meals) from each bag
purchased will be donated to Feeding America and partner food
banks. Food Lion guarantees a minimum donation of $200,000
(monetary equivalent of 2 million meals) from Feb. 28 – March 19,
2024.
**Food Lion Feeds helps to address food insecurity by providing
product, financial and equipment donations; disaster relief and
recovery efforts; investing in capital campaign support for feeding
agencies; and volunteer hours by associates. These investments are
converted to a meal equivalent based on various meal equivalent
formulas.
About Food LionFood 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 23 consecutive years. It also pioneered a food
rescue program to support food-insecure neighbors. Through Food
Lion Feeds, the retailer has donated more than 1.2 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 AmericaFeeding 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.
CONTACT: |
Food Lion
Media Relations |
|
704-245-3317 |
|
publicrelationsteam@foodlion.com |
A photo accompanying this announcement is available
at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7940b426-261f-4475-8065-b75c55326e3b