How Food Lion Feeds has nourished over 300 communities through pantry makeovers

Food Lion says the Food Lion Feeds is transforming 38 community feeding partner pantries across its 10-state operating area through its annual initiative, The Great Pantry Makeover.

The effort, which includes remodeling and stocking food pantries, also expands access to nutritious food while addressing food insecurity, according to a news release. Food Lion associates will also provide more than 900 volunteer hours through its largest associate volunteer effort.

Food Lion Feeds was founded in 2014 by Food Lion to address food insecurity in the towns and cities it serves, the company said. The Great Pantry Makeover takes place every September to align with Hunger Action Month, a time when Food Lion Feeds deepens its existing relationship with Feeding America.

“The partnership highlights the impact food can have on a person’s life and inspires action to end hunger in their communities," the company said in the release. "Since 2015, Food Lion Feeds has renovated or supported more than 320 food pantries through The Great Pantry Makeover."

“At Food Lion, we believe no one should have to choose between dinner and rent or gas and groceries,” said Kevin Durkee, manager for Food Lion Feeds and Food Lion. “When we collaborate with our community feeding partners to create innovative solutions such as pantry makeovers, we increase access to nutritious food so our neighbors and their families can have the nourishment they deserve.”

With the initiative in its 10th year, Food Lion said its associates support these local transformations. During the 30-day effort, they volunteer for activities such as painting and cleaning pantries or installing shelving, freezers, coolers and other equipment to expand capacity for fresh fruits, vegetables and other items. Additionally, Food Lion associates will stock each food pantry with more than 3,000 pounds of shelf-stable food provided by Food Lion Feeds, the release said.

Food Lion Feeds is providing the following pantries with makeovers:

• Harvest Ministries, Inc., Delmar, Del.
• Bay Shore Community Church / Blessings Unlimited, Millsboro, Del.
• St. Patrick’s Center, Wilmington, Del.
• Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Albany, Ga.
• Feeding the Valley Food Bank — Albany, Albany, Ga.
• Miracle Baptist Church, Hephzibah, Ga.
• Springfield Missionary Baptist — Food Distribution Center, Reidsville, Ga.
• Soul Station Ministries, Tunnel Hill, Ga.
• God’s Storehouse Inc., Vidalia, Ga.
• Beauty Spot Missionary Baptist Church Outreach Ministry, Fayetteville, N.C.
• Melfield United Church of Christ, Haw River, N.C.
• Hildebran United Methodist Church, Hildebran, N.C.
• Onslow Community Outreach, Jacksonville, N.C.
• Southeastern Community Action Partnership, Elizabethtown, N.C.
• Yokefellow Ministry of Greater Statesville, Statesville, N.C.
• Believer’s Home Fellowship, Tabor City, N.C.
• Concerned Citizens of Tillery, Tillery, N.C.
• Second Season Thrift Store and Neighborhood Pantry, Waynesville, N.C.
• Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission, Inc., Wilkesboro, N.C.
• Manna from Heaven Ministry, Wingate, N.C.
• St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, Bishopville S.C.
• Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church Edisto Food Pantry, Eisto Island, S.C.
• Bethlehem Baptist Church, Edgefield, S.C.
• Blessed Hands Food Pantry, Goose Creek, S.C.
• Greater St. James Temple, Inman, S.C.
• Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Swansea Outreach Foundation, Swansea, S.C.
• Project ResΩ (Project Rescue), Chattanooga, Tenn.
• Vine Ridge Baptist Church 5 Loaves Food Pantry, Crawford, Tenn.
• The Salvation Army, Johnson City Corps, Johnson City, Tenn.
• CornerstoneFOCCUS Inc., Kenbridge, Va.
• A Hand Up Community Resource Center, Richmond, Va.
• Crusade for Christ Christian Church Ministries, Richmond, Va.
• The Lion’s Share Food Pantry, Roanoke, Va.
• The Agape Center New River Valley, Christiansburg, Va.
• Piney Grove Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, Va.
• Grove Christian Outreach Center, Williamsburg, Va.
• The Salvation Army, Clarksburg Corps, Clarksburg, W.Va.
• Pentecostal Holiness Church, White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.