Food Lion Feeds awards $40,000 in grants to 20 southwest Virginia feeding agencies

ROANOKE, Va. — As part of Food Lion’s efforts to care for the Greater Roanoke Area — as well as the other communities in the retailer’s service area– nearly 600 hunger relief agencies will receive $1 million in grant funding courtesy of Food Lion Feeds.
The retailer announced Tuesday, May 5 the funds will support local feeding agencies affiliated with the 30 regional Feeding America food bank partners across the towns and cities within the Food Lion’s 10-state footprint amid the coronavirus pandemic. In particular, officials say the grant resources will enable each of the nearly 600 agencies to purchase enough food and necessities to keep up with the increase in demand at this time.
According to Food Lion, these grants are actually part of the more than $3.1 million in COVID-19 relief efforts recently announced by the retailer, which officials say marks the largest single community relief donation Food Lion has ever made.
“This is an unprecedented and challenging time, and we know our neighbors are counting on us more than ever to help nourish their families,” says Meg Ham, president of Food Lion. “From schoolchildren missing meals while schools are out, to parents who have lost jobs, and seniors who are struggling to make ends meet, we’re committed to serving all of our neighbors now more than ever. We are doing what we can to support our food bank partners and these local feeding agencies that share our passion for ensuring none of our neighbors have to worry about where their next meal will come from.”
The $1 million in grants from Food Lion Feeds come after previous announcements from the retailer, including:

• $500,000 to support local Feeding America affiliated food bank partners in Food Lion’s 10-state footprint and $100,000 to Feeding America’s overall COVID-19 relief efforts.
• $500,000 donation to fund medical research at UNC Health, where scientists are working to develop treatments, vaccines, and public health practices for COVID-19.
• $1 million for the Lion’s Pride Foundation, Food Lion’s associate emergency care fund to support associates whose families may be impacted.
• $500,000 in gift cards and reusable bags in a partnership with school districts in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia to supplement their efforts to provide meals to children who are eligible for the National School Lunch Program.

Food Lion officials say the following Feeding America Southwest Virginia feeding agencies will receive grant money: