“Join the Fight Against Hunger: How Food Lion and Customers are Making a Difference Together”

SALISBURY, NC — Food Lion Feeds has kicked off its annual Gala Apple Bag campaign, encouraging customers in ten states to join the fight against food insecurity. From September 17 to October 7, shoppers can buy special apple bags or make donations at checkout.

This initiative began in 2014 and has already provided over 40 million meals, thanks to the kindness of Food Lion shoppers. Each Gala Apple Bag sold adds $0.50 to the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation. This money supports local hunger relief groups. A minimum of $200,000—or about 2 million meals—is pledged for this year’s campaign.

“This campaign is about neighbors helping neighbors,” said Kevin Durkee, Manager of Food Lion Feeds. “Every Gala apple bag sold and each dollar donated turns into food for families. We are proud to partner with our customers and local organizations.”

This effort comes at a crucial time. Recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture highlights a worrying trend: in 2023, 6.8 million households faced very low food security. Many families skipped meals or reduced portions due to financial strain.

Customers can support this campaign in-store or online through Food Lion To Go by purchasing a Gala Apple Bag, rounding up their expenses, or making direct contributions at checkout. All funds raised will go directly to community hunger relief, part of Food Lion’s goal to donate 3 billion meals by 2032.

Since its inception, Food Lion Feeds has delivered over 1.5 billion meals through food donations, volunteering, and community partnerships. This success showcases the power of community impact.

For more on Food Lion Feeds and its initiatives, check out their [website](https://www.foodlion.com/feeds).

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