SALISBURY – The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation has awarded more than $675,000 in grants to more than 250 nonprofit agencies and community feeding partners, including several Rowan County organizations, across Food Lion’s 10-state footprint.

The grants support those local organizations’ efforts to nourish neighbors experiencing hunger and provide nutritional education to their communities. As part of the total distribution, Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation awarded $165,000 to Feeding America to support child hunger programs. 

Local organizations receiving grants and amounts include:

Salisbury: Eleven 21, Inc, $2,200; Salisbury Urban Ministries, $2,200; Meals on Wheels Rowan, $1,900; One Love Community Programs, $1,900; and Community Care Clinic of Rowan, $1,000.

China Grove: Main Street Mission, $2,500

Kannapolis: Big Elm Ministries, $2,000

Since its inception in 2001, the foundation has distributed more than $18.9 million across Food Lion’s 10-state operating area.

“Food Lion is committed to fostering a sense of unity and support for the towns and cities we serve,” said Adam Bass, vice president of pricing, Food Lion, and president, Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation.

“Through the grants that the foundation provides, we support our community feeding partners who help nourish our neighbors experiencing hunger. These grants increase access to nutritious food to ensure our neighbors and their families receive the nourishment they deserve. By investing in nutrition education programs, our partners deliver the knowledge and skills to prepare nutritious meals. This sets neighbors up for success in life as they learn about meal planning, budgeting, cooking techniques and the nutritional value of different foods.”

In addition to providing immediate solutions to make fresh and nutritious food more accessible, the grants support nutritional education programs. These programs play a crucial role in breaking the cycle of hunger by empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills to make healthier food choices and improve their dietary habits.

Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization operated by a volunteer board of directors comprised of Food Lion associates from different areas of the company. The foundation focuses on fighting child hunger and helping partner organizations increase their fresh capacity so families can put nutritious meals on their tables. It also provides nutrition education to support the health and wellness of Food Lion’s neighbors.

The foundation has also made significant contributions to Food Lion Feeds, which has provided more than 1.2 billion meals to individuals and families since 2014. That has been achieved through a combination of providing product, financial and equipment donations; disaster relief and recovery efforts; investing in capital campaign support for feeding agencies; and volunteer hours by associates. Those investments are converted to a meal equivalent based on various meal equivalent formulas.

The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation holds two grant cycles each year. The grant application deadline for the fall/winter cycle is Sept. 12, and can be found by going to foodlion.com, clicking on Food Lion Feeds and then Charitable Foundation.

Grants will be awarded in early December. Nonprofit organizations are eligible for grants if affiliated with Feeding America or the United Way. Organizations are eligible to apply for grants every 12 months.

For more information on Food Lion Feeds’ commitment to fight hunger, go to foodlion.com/feeds.