SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion Feeds is partnering with 34 colleges and universities this fall to help combat food insecurity among students through its Sack to Give Back initiative.
Now in its sixth year, the program turns quarterback sacks into meals. For every sack made by a participating football team, Food Lion Feeds will donate the equivalent of 1,000 meals—up to 30,000 per school—to campus food pantries or local Feeding America® partner food banks. Since its 2019 launch, the program has provided over 3.8 million meals to students and the surrounding communities.
The effort comes at a time when nearly half of college students report experiencing food insecurity, according to a study by the Hope Center for Student Basic Needs at Temple University.
“When college students struggle to afford healthy meals, it can have a significant impact on their academic performance,” said Kevin Durkee, Manager of Food Lion Feeds. “Sack to Give Back gets football teams and fans involved in a unique way to help reduce food insecurity on their respective campuses, giving all students an opportunity to succeed.”
The campaign begins in September, coinciding with Hunger Action Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness of hunger and promote community involvement.
Participating schools include Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, James Madison University, University of Maryland, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest University, among others.
