Food Lion Feeds announces the launch of its Summers Without Hunger initiative, aimed at addressing childhood food insecurity and increasing access to nutritious food during the summer. The annual campaign encourages customers to be catalysts for change and join the fight to tackle food insecurity by purchasing specially designed reusable bags for $3 at any Food Lion store.
Since the campaign began in 2019, customers have helped provide more than 57 million meals*. The campaign, which runs June 26 – July 23, benefits Feeding America®, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization, and local partner food banks throughout Food Lion’s 10-state operating area. Food Lion Feeds was founded in 2014 by Food Lion to address food insecurity in the towns and cities it serves.
Supporting the initiative is easy. Food Lion customers can purchase a specially designed reusable bag in-store or online via Food Lion To Go. Proceeds from all specially designed reusable bags purchased by customers will be generously matched by 10 Food Lion suppliers: Campbell’s, Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, Gatorade, General Mills, Kellanova, Kraft Heinz, Knorr, Pepsi Beverages and Triscuit, doubling the impact, up to $1 million.
As a result, every bag purchased provides the equivalent of 60 meals. Customers can also use the digital keypad at checkout to donate a specific dollar amount or round up their purchases to support the effort.
According to Feeding America, 1 in 5 children across America experiences hunger, especially during the summer months. Through Food Lion Feeds, the omnichannel retailer is working to increase access to nutritious food by uniting with customers and suppliers to help ensure that families and their children have access to the nourishment they deserve.
“When children are out of school, many lack immediate access to healthy and nutritious foods,” said Kevin Durkee, Manager, Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion. “With the support of our valued customers and suppliers, we are helping nourish children in the towns and cities we serve, setting them up for success in life. Together, we can be the catalysts for change, ensuring children and their families have access to nutritious food.”
In addition to donations from customers, suppliers and Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion associates will also volunteer throughout the campaign at several local Feeding America partner food banks to help distribute food to neighbors experiencing hunger.
Through Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion has helped provide more than 1.2 billion meals to individuals and families since 2014 and has committed to donating 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 Summers Without Hunger campaign, Food Lion and participating vendors match customers’ purchases of specially designed reusable bags from June 26 – July 23, 2024.
**Food Lion Feeds helps 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.