Food Lion Feeds, the nonprofit arm of Food Lion, and the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers are launching a season-long partnership that will convert runs scored during the 2026 baseball season into meals for food-insecure families. For every home plate crossing this season, Food Lion Feeds will donate 100 meals to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina.
The Cannon Ballers open their 2026 home season April 2 at Atrium Health Ballpark in Kannapolis, North Carolina, with first pitch at 7 p.m.
How the partnership works
The meal donation program anchors a broader set of community initiatives tied to the season. Food Lion will also serve as the official grocery partner for the Cannon Ballers’ Fireworks Food Drive, during which fans who bring nonperishable food donations to designated games will be invited onto the field after the game to watch the fireworks. During a Cannon Ballers Education Day game, Food Lion Feeds will donate 1,000 meals to local Title I public schools. In both spring and fall, Cannon Ballers players will join Food Lion Feeds staff to host grocery shopping sprees for families facing food insecurity.
Kevin Durkee, manager of Food Lion Feeds, said the partnership extends the grocer’s hunger-relief mission into new community touchpoints.
“At Food Lion, we believe no one should have to choose between dinner and rent, or gas and groceries. Partnering with the Cannon Ballers allows us to connect with more local families and hit a home run for hunger relief across Kannapolis, North Carolina, and nearby communities,” Durkee said.
Vince Marcucci, chief revenue officer at Temerity Baseball – which owns the Cannon Ballers – said the relationship is rooted in shared community values.
“At its core, this partnership is about people. It is about the families in our stands, the children in our schools and our neighbors who need support. Food Lion has always been more than a grocery store. They are a pillar of this community. Together, we are creating opportunities to turn the joy of baseball into tangible hope for those who need it most,” Marcucci said.
Food Lion Feeds’ broader commitment
Established in 2014, Food Lion Feeds has donated more than 1.5 billion meals to food-insecure individuals across the grocer’s 10-state footprint. The company has committed to reaching 3 billion meals donated by 2032. Food Lion operates more than 1,100 stores and employs more than 82,000 associates across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. The Cannon Ballers are the Single-A Carolina League affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.
[RELATED: Food Lion Feeds, Boys & Girls Clubs Of America Begin Three-Year Partnership]