Food Lion releases updates for its philanthropic food security initiatives
Through Food Lion Feeds, the grocer has helped to provide more than 1.2 billion meals to individuals and families since 2014.
Food Lion shared its numerous efforts related to hunger relief.
The retailer is alleviating food insecurity through Food Lion Feeds, its philanthropic giving platform, and it also makes strides in minimizing food waste.
A few of the latest updates on these initiatives are below:
- Through Food Lion Feeds, the grocer 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 next year.
- In 2023 alone, 182 million meals were donated to help nourish surrounding communities.
- All 1,108 Food Lion stores in 2023 provided more than 69 million pounds through its pioneering food rescue program. Through this initiative, stores distribute unsold, edible food that might otherwise go to waste to community feeding partners who nourish neighbors experiencing hunger. The effort also reduces food waste for a sustainable impact.
[Read more: Food Lion Feeds partners with CIAA Schools to address food insecurity]
- In total, Food Lion has helped provide more than 100,000 volunteering hours across its footprint. Because Food Lion creates a culture that encourages volunteering and allows everyone to find a greater purpose in the work they do every day, associates embrace the value of volunteer work. Those volunteer efforts include sorting and packing events with partner food banks to harvesting potatoes, corn or sweet potatoes that are still good for consumption. During Hunger Action Month in September, Food Lion associates support their local communities by remodeling and stocking shelves of community food pantries.
- Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation has provided more than $18.1 million in grant funding, helping to nourish communities with fresh food for backpack programs, Kids Café’s and other hunger-relief programs as well as funding for long-term programs to help shorten the lines at food banks.
[Read more: Food Lion, Novant Health partner on food pharmacy pilot program]