SALISBURY, N.C., Nov. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the college basketball season sets to officially tipoff, the fifth season of Food Lion Feeds’ Score to Give More program will bring together a record 54 collegiate basketball programs, including 16 women’s teams. This represents an increase in participation compared to the previous year and helps nourish more neighbors experiencing hunger. Through this collaboration to address food insecurity, Food Lion Feeds will help provide 100 meals* (up to 30,000 meals per team) for every free throw made. The effort benefits Feeding America® partner food banks throughout Food Lion’s 10-state operating area. Food Lion Feeds was founded in 2014 by Food Lion to address food insecurity in the towns and cities it serves.
“By expanding our partnership to include women’s basketball programs, we are able to increase awareness about food insecurity in our communities through Food Lions Feeds’ Score to Give More program,” said Kevin Durkee, Manager, Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion. “Taking advantage of every free throw made, we engage college students in the fight against hunger. In addition to nourishing our neighbors, we look forward to an exciting collegiate basketball season through these partnerships.”
In 2023, Food Lion Feeds’ Score to Give More program has expanded from 33 to 54 men’s and women’s teams across Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The unique program will benefit 19 Feeding America local partner food banks serving communities where each school is located. Since 2019, Food Lion Feeds has donated more than 3.2 million meals* through the combination of regular season and tournament free throws made by players.
The Score to Give More campaign is one of many efforts Food Lion Feeds leads in partnership with college campuses. In addition to this collegiate effort, Food Lion Feeds also teams up with universities for its Sack to Give Back campaign, providing 1,000 meals* (up to 30,000 meals per school) for every quarterback sack made by the participating institution.
The Score to Give More participating schools and correlating food banks that will benefit are:
| School | School Location | Food Bank benefiting from Meal Donations |
| Appalachian State University | Boone, NC | Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC |
| Bluefield State University (Men’s) | Bluefield, WV | Mountaineer Food Bank |
| Bluefield State University (Women’s) | Bluefield, WV | Mountaineer Food Bank |
| Bowie State University (Men’s) | Bowie, MD | Maryland Food Bank |
| Bowie State University (Women’s) | Bowie, MD | Maryland Food Bank |
| Catawba College | Salisbury, NC | Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina |
| Claflin University (Men’s) | Orangeburg, SC | Harvest Hope Food Bank |
| Claflin University (Women’s) | Orangeburg, SC | Harvest Hope Food Bank |
| Coastal Carolina University | Conway, SC | Lowcountry Food Bank |
| Duke University | Durham, NC | Inter-Faith Food Shuttle |
| East Carolina University | Greenville, NC | Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC |
| Elizabeth City State University (Men’s) | Elizabeth City, NC | Food Bank of the Albemarle |
| Elizabeth City State University (Women’s) | Elizabeth City, NC | Food Bank of the Albemarle |
| Elon University | Elon, NC | Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC |
| Fayetteville State University (Men’s) | Fayetteville, NC | Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast NC |
| Fayetteville State University (Women’s) | Fayetteville, NC | Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast NC |
| Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA | America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia |
| James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA | Blue Ridge Area Food Bank |
| Johnson C. Smith University (Men’s) | Charlotte, NC | Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina |
| Johnson C. Smith University (Women’s) | Charlotte, NC | Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina |
| Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA | Blue Ridge Area Food Bank |
| Lincoln University (Men’s) | Oxford, PA | Food Bank of Delaware |
| Lincoln University (Women’s) | Oxford, PA | Food Bank of Delaware |
| Livingstone College (Men’s) | Salisbury, NC | Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina |
| Livingstone College (Women’s) | Salisbury, NC | Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina |
| North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University | Greensboro, NC | Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC |
| North Carolina State University | Raleigh, NC | Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC |
| Old Dominion University | Norfolk, VA | Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore |
| Shaw University (Men’s) | Raleigh, NC | Inter-Faith Food Shuttle |
| Shaw University (Women’s) | Raleigh, NC | Inter-Faith Food Shuttle |
| South Carolina State University | Orangeburg, SC | Harvest Hope Food Bank |
| St. Augustine’s University (Men’s) | Raleigh, NC | Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC |
| St. Augustine’s University (Women’s) | Raleigh, NC | Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC |
| Tennessee Tech University (Men's) | Cookeville, TN | Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN |
| Tennessee Tech University (Women’s) | Cookeville, TN | Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN |
| Towson University | Towson, MD | Maryland Food Bank |
| University of Delaware (Men’s) | Newark, DE | Food Bank of Delaware |
| University of Delaware (Women’s) | Newark, DE | Food Bank of Delaware |
| University of Maryland (Men’s) | Adelphi, MD | Capital Area Food Bank |
| University of Maryland (Women’s) | Adelphi, MD | Capital Area Food Bank |
| University of North Carolina | Chapel Hill, NC | Inter-Faith Food Shuttle |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke, NC | Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast NC |
| University of Richmond | Richmond, VA | Feed More |
| University of South Carolina | Columbia, SC | Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina |
| Virginia State University (Men’s) | Petersburg, VA | Feed More |
| Virginia State University (Women’s) | Petersburg, VA | Feed More |
| Virginia Tech University | Blacksburg, VA | Feeding Southwest Virginia |
| Virginia Union University (Men’s) | Richmond, VA | Feed More |
| Virginia Union University (Women’s) | Richmond, VA | Feed More |
| Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem, NC | Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC |
| William and Mary College | Williamsburg, VA | Virginia Peninsula Foodbank |
| Winston-Salem State University (Men’s) | Winston-Salem, NC | Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC |
| Winston-Salem State University (Women’s) | Winston-Salem, NC | Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC |
Through Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion has helped to provide more than 1 billion meals to individuals and families since 2014 and has committed to donate 1.5 billion meals by 2025. For more information on Food Lion Feeds’ commitment to ending hunger, visit foodlion.com/feeds.
*$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America® on behalf of local partner food banks.
About Food Lion
Food Lion is an omnichannel 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.
About Feeding America
Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment.
We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.
| CONTACT: | Food Lion Media Relations |
| 704-245-3317 | |
| publicrelationsteam@foodlion.com | |
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/32322eea-73cf-4043-8077-52150b63f1cf
