Food Lion Feeds feeding initiative draws support for nearly 15M meals

Food Lion Feeds says its seventh annual Orange Bag campaign, held Feb. 26 to March 18 in collaboration with Food Lion customers, provided the equivalent of more than 14.8 million meals to address food insecurity and nourish neighbors who are experiencing hunger.

The campaign benefits Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, and local partner food banks throughout Food Lion’s 10-state operating area. Through the initiative, customers help address food insecurity by supporting access to nutritious food, according to a news release.

Food Lion Feeds says the annual campaign has collectively supported 33 food bank locations since 2019. A total of 25 million meals have been provided through the sale of specially marked orange bags and cash donations, the release said.

“Ending hunger is a mission that requires strong collaboration, which is why we’re grateful for partners like Food Lion who are helping us ensure everyone has access to the food and resources they need to thrive,” said Casey Marsh, chief development officer for Feeding America.

According to the USDA, more than 1 in 4 people in the U.S. participate in at least one food and nutrition assistance program each year. Participation in these programs has increased from the previous year, indicating that more individuals and families may be experiencing financial difficulty or facing hunger, the release said.

Despite budgeting and saving to put food on the table, many households need extra support to access food and essential resources, says Food Lion Feeds, adding that the charitable food sector remains a critical support for families who are working to overcome challenges with accessing food. More than 47 million people (1 in 7), including more than 13 million children (1 in 5), in the U.S. were living in food insecure households in 2023, the release said.

“Thanks to the support of our customers, we are once again proud to share the impact the orange bag campaign is making to nourish our communities,” said Kevin Durkee, manager of Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion. “We are committed to doing our part because everyone deserves access to nutritious food. This annual campaign makes it easy for customers to help provide nutritious meals to their neighbors in need through our collaborating partner food banks.”

Along with supporting the campaign through the purchase of specially marked Food Lion Feeds orange bags and cash donations at the register, Food Lion customers also had the option to use digital keypads at checkout to donate a specific dollar amount or round up their purchases to support the cause.

Food Lion says it has helped to provide more than 1 billion meals to individuals and families since Food Lion Feeds was founded in 2014 and has committed to donate 1.5 billion meals by 2025.