Food Lion, customers join to nourish communities
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.
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Food Lion noted that 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 at 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.
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“Every cash donation and orange bag purchase make a lasting impact to help nourish our neighbors,” said Kevin Durkee, manager of Food Lion Feeds at 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.”