SALISBURY, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Food Lion held its first annual "The Feedys" awards Tuesday at its corporate headquarters in Salisbury, N.C. The inaugural event honored those who share the company's commitment to ending hunger in the communities Food Lion serves and helped the company donate nearly 180 million meals of its 500 million meal commitment by 2020.
The Feedys honored the company's partnerships with its 30 local food banks through years of service awards and presented Kids Café grants to 14 food banks through the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation, totaling $143,000. Additionally, four awards were distributed recognizing an individual hunger hero, a Food Lion store, an individual Food Lion associate and our food bank partner of the year for their passion and commitment to fighting hunger every day.
Finally, the company held a special tribute to its late co-founder, Ralph W. Ketner, who recently passed away at the age of 95 on Sunday, May 29, 2016, by donating 95,000 meals to Rowan Helping Ministries in Salisbury, N.C. As Ketner was a catalyst in starting the agency, Food Lion President Meg Ham presented him with an honorary "Lion's Heart" award for all he did to fight hunger in Food Lion's hometown market.
"At Food Lion, we believe no one should have to choose between dinner and rent, or gas and groceries, and we know today one in six Americans are struggling with that choice every day," said Meg Ham, president of Food Lion. "Our passion is helping to nourish and feed families through healthy, fresh, low-price groceries in the towns and cities we serve and shorten the lines at local food banks. Through this annual event, we will celebrate the local hunger heroes in our communities and honor those who are working to make sure no one goes hungry."
The Feedys inaugural winners include:
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Doug Mitchell of Bell Buckle, Tenn. – The "Lion Heart" Award
The "Lion Heart" award recognizes an individual that demonstrates outstanding skills in coordinating and motivating groups of donors and volunteers for Food Lion Feeds' hunger-relief projects to benefit partner food banks.
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FeedMore of Richmond, Va. – The "Food King" Award
The "Food King" award honors a food bank that demonstrates an outstanding commitment to ending hunger through financial support, innovation, encouragement and by motivating others to take leadership roles in hunger-relief programs and community involvement.
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Kathy Whicker, Food Lion associate, Winston-Salem, N.C. – The
"Lion's Pride" Award
The "Lion's Pride" award recognizes a Food Lion associate that demonstrates outstanding skills in coordinating and motivating associates and volunteers for hunger-relief projects for the benefit of Food Lion Feeds and its partner food banks.
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Store 2212 of Simpsonville, S.C. – The "Store That Roars" Award
The "Store That Roars" award honors a store that demonstrates outstanding skills in coordinating and motivating store associates, customers and volunteers for hunger-relief projects to benefit Food Lion Feeds and its partner food banks.
Food Lion launched Food Lion Feeds, its hunger relief platform, in 2014 with a commitment to donate 500 million meals by 2020. To date, the company has contributed more than 180 million meals toward this goal. To learn more about Food Lion Feeds, visit www.foodlion.com/feeds.
About Food Lion
Food Lion, based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, has more than 1,100 stores in 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states and employs more than 65,000 associates. By leveraging its longstanding heritage of low prices and convenient locations, Food Lion is working to own the easiest full shop grocery experience in the Southeast, anchored by a strong commitment to affordability, freshness and the communities it serves. Through Food Lion Feeds, the company has committed to provide 500 million meals to individuals and families in need by the end of 2020. Food Lion is a company of Delhaize America, the U.S. division of Brussels-based Delhaize Group (NYSE: DEG). For more information, visit www.foodlion.com.
