By Amanda Raymond
amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

CHINA GROVE – Food Lion continued its mission to help feed the local community by donating bags full of holiday meal ingredients at Main Street Mission on Friday.

The giveaway was part of Food Lion’s 12 Days of Giving, which started on Dec. 8. The company will be providing food, volunteer hours and financial contributions to food bank partners and individuals until Dec. 23, which will equate to more than 100,000 meals and almost 1,000 volunteer hours, according to a press release.

The event is part of the Holidays Without Hunger program, an in-store campaign during which customers can purchase a specially-marked box for $5 or make a cash donation to Feeding America at checkout.

The Food Lion Feeds program has committed to providing 500 million meals to individuals and families in need by the end of 2020. Since the initiative started in 2014, about 250 million meals have been donated through in-store campaigns, in-store food rescue programs and associate volunteerism, according to a press release.

Twenty-five members of the Food Lion Pricing Department team assembled 150 bags of donated food for Friday’s giveaway.

Families received two bags – one of perishable items including canned ham, potatoes and onions, and the other of nonperishable items including vegetables, stuffing mix, cookie mix and a cookie cutter.

Matt Harakal and Rita Roberson from Food Lion were in Main Street Mission’s parking lot handing out the bags.

Harakal said the company has partnered with Main Street Mission for other things, but this was the first time they’ve hosted a 12 Days of Giving event at the charity.

Harakal said he knows everyone has heard stories about those going hungry during the holidays, so it feels good to help lessen that problem.

“What better time than Christmas to give back?” he said.

Roberson said she was proud to be a part of a company that has a strong commitment to helping the local community.

Ann Corriher, executive director of Main Street Mission, said Food Lion has always been a supportive community partner.

She said Roberson and her team seem to enjoy working with and volunteering at Main Street Mission.

Corriher said her organization would not be able to keep going without support from community partners, so she is thankful for all the donations and support Main Street Mission receives.

“All of our neighbors are really appreciative,” she said.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.