WSSU receives donation from Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation
Feeding the Hungry grant increases access to nutritious food, provides nutrition education
Winston-Salem State University’s food pantry has received $1,500 from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation to help nourish neighbors experiencing hunger.
The Feeding the Hungry grant supports community feeding partners by helping neighbors increase their access to nutritious food and providing nutrition education to eliminate health risks for those experiencing food insecurity.
The donation will help supply non-perishable food, toiletries, personal hygiene items and other needed supplies to the Allegacy Federal Credit Union Student Resource Center at WSSU, currently located in the Donald Julian Reeves Student Activities Center, said Dr. Jon Kapell, assistant dean of students at WSSU.
The new space, which also houses the career closet, comprises nearly1,000 square feet and provides refrigeration for perishable food items.
“We are grateful to the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation for this grant that will help us to meet the nutritional needs of our students and remove any barriers that may interfere with their success,” Kapell said. “Food Lion Inc. gifted 100 percent of the original products to the food pantry and has been a consistent contributor. We can’t thank them enough for helping us to keep the shelves stocked as the need continues to grow.”
During the last academic year, there were over 550 users of the food pantry and career closet as compared to 79 the prior year, Kapell said.
The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation is committed to supporting families facing food insecurity across its 10-state footprint. Established in 2001, the foundation provides financial support for programs and organizations dedicated to feeding local neighbors in the communities it serves. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $18.9 million in grants.
About The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation
The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Food Lion, based in Salisbury, N.C. Established in 2001, the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation provides financial support for programs and organizations dedicated to eliminating hunger. The charitable foundation has provided more than $18.9 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. The charitable foundation partners with Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief agency, in addition to local food agencies serving the 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states in which Food Lion operates. For more information, visit www.foodlion.com/pages/food-lion-feeds.
About Food Lion
Food 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.