Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Receives $10,000 Food Lion Donation for Child Nutrition Programs

In an echo of Royal Examiner’s October 17 coverage of the GIANT/MARTINS donation to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (BRAFB) and Front Royal’s First Baptist Church’s cooperative “Dinners Together” food distribution program with surrounding churches in the area, on Friday, October 20, we received a press release from the Food Bank on a similar presentation in its home base location of Verona. This time it was Food Lion providing the funding and volunteer hours to the Food Bank supported Child Nutrition Program there.

Read the entire release below, with additional information on the regional Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and Food Lion’s long-term support of it at the end of the release. We like to share positive news, sometimes even if it’s in a neighboring community.

VERONA, Va. (October 20, 2023) – The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank was presented a check for $10,000 from Food Lion on Thursday, October 19, 2023, that will directly benefit the Food Bank’s vital Child Nutrition programs. Members and leaders of some local Food Lion stores were joined by a Food Bank delegation to celebrate the donation at the Food Bank’s Verona headquarters.

Shot from Thursday’s presentation to the regional Food Bank in Verona, Va. – Photo Courtesy Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

This gift will go a long way to help ensure that the most vulnerable in the area, the 1 in 12 children who are food insecure, have food available through the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank’s Child Nutrition programs. During their long relationship with the Food Bank, Food Lion has donated more than 16 million pounds of food, more than $465,000, and countless hours of volunteer time (provided by Food Lion associates).

“We are truly grateful to Food Lion for standing with us to make sure everyone has enough to eat,” said Michael McKee, CEO of the Food Bank. “Together, we set a place at the table for everyone. You show up to volunteer, to give your time, to do the packing, to help with the kids’ programs. We really feel you at our side each and every day, supplying volunteers, money, and food when we need them. We know that we can count on our friends at Food Lion. You are true to your word that Food Lion Feeds,” concluded McKee.

For more information about the programs of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, visit www.BRAFB.org.

About the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Verona, Virginia, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is the largest organization alleviating hunger in western and central Virginia. The Food Bank serves an average of 127,500 people per month across 25 counties and eight cities through distribution centers in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Winchester, and Verona. We’re serving record numbers of Virginians through our network of more than 400 community partners, which includes food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, schools, libraries, healthcare clinics, community centers, and more. We pledge to continue innovating and adapting to secure, store, and distribute more food to more individuals, families, children, and seniors experiencing hunger. The Food Bank is a partner food bank of Feeding America®, a national association with a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries, and meal programs. Last year, this charitable food assistance network helped provide 5.2 billion meals to tens of millions of people facing food insecurity. For more information, visit www.brafb.org.

About Food Lion
Food Lion is an omni-channel 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 22 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 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.