Last updated on December 12th, 2024
During its ninth annual Feedys Awards, Food Lion Feeds honored a select group of partner food banks, volunteers, community leaders and associates for their efforts to address food insecurity across the grocer’s 10-state footprint.
“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, which was founded in 2014.
“Through this annual event, we celebrate the work of our partnerships throughout our 10-state footprint and honor those working to ensure our neighbors have access to the food they deserve.”
The following people and organizations were recognized:
Food King Feeding Partner Award
Impact Southside Food Pantry in Chesapeake, Virginia
This award honors a feeding partner that demonstrates commitment through financial support, innovation, encouragement and motivation for others to take leadership roles in hunger relief programming and community involvement.
Impact Southside Food Pantry in Chesapeake, Virginia, is the second largest partner agency in the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. Each month, it serves an average of 12,000 people or 2,500 households.
It creates an inclusive environment and has 120 volunteers who support a client-choice food pantry, allowing those in need to select food in a grocery store setting.
Executive Director Mechele Hairston has encouraged city government officials, nonprofits and businesses to support the organization’s efforts, including food pantry pop-ups in multiple neighborhoods and on-site mobile pantries at local schools for students and their families.
She also provides protein bags for junior varsity and varsity student-athletes. In 2023, she launched “Love Norfolk,” which aims to bring together resources to nourish and support the homeless.
Lion Heart Volunteer Award
Larry Nowak, president of Faith Outreach Ministries of the Grand Strand in Surfside Beach, South Carolina
This award recognizes someone who demonstrates skills in coordinating and motivating groups of donors and volunteers for hunger relief projects for the benefit of Food Lion Feeds and its partner food banks.
Nowak began supporting neighbors more than 10 years ago when his pastor envisioned launching a feeding ministry called New Beginnings. Due to the growing need for food, the ministry partnered in 2017 with Lowcountry Food Bank in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Under Nowak’s leadership, motivation and inspiration, the ministry serves more than 200 families and feeds lunch to more than 600 people per month.
In addition, Nowak led efforts to spearhead the opening of a veteran-operated food pantry – Socastee Pantry – in a community where neighbors had limited access to healthy food.
Grand Lion for Good Vendor Award
Kellanova
This award, presented to a Food Lion supplier, recognizes commitment to partnering with and participating in Food Lion Feeds’ hunger relief projects.
Kellanova has helped match customer donations since 2020, providing $100,000 and supporting Food Lion Feeds Summers Without Hunger annual campaign. The yearly effort helps children and families have meals during the summer in partnership with Feeding America and the 33 local partner food banks throughout the grocer’s operating area.
At a volunteer event coordinated by Food Lion Feeds in 2023, Kellanova donated a truckload of snack items and $10,000 to Harvest Hope Food Bank in Greenville, South Carolina. In addition, the company participated in a distribution event that served 400 families.
Store that Roars Motivational Award
Food Lion at 4615 Yadkinville Road in Pfafftown, North Carolina
This award honors a Food Lion store that demonstrates outstanding skills in coordinating and motivating store associates, customers and volunteers to participate in hunger relief projects for the benefit of Food Lion Feeds and its partner food banks.
In collaboration with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, the store helps with a backpack program and Thanksgiving break kits that contain fresh produce or snacks and shelf-stable food items. It also donates food rescue to Yadkin Christian Ministries in East Bend, North Carolina, and Sin Fronteras Iglesia Cristiana Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
In addition to food donations, store associates volunteer at these partnership agencies or the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina.
Lion’s Pride Store Associate Award
Store Manager Mike Perry, Food Lion at 8149 Kings Highway in King George, Virginia
This award honors a Food Lion associate who demonstrates skills in coordinating and motivating store associates and volunteers for hunger relief projects for the benefit of Food Lion Feeds and its partner food banks.
Store Manager Mike Perry leads the store’s efforts to distribute unsold, edible food that might otherwise go to waste. In addition, Perry organizes drives to benefit the food bank and its volunteers.
Based on statistics collected by Feeding America, 73 percent of impoverished people in King George County have incomes below 200 percent of the poverty limit.
