DURHAM, N.C. – Durham-area Food Lion associates will remodel and stock the food pantry at Durham Technical Community College as part of the grocer's "The Great Pantry Makeover" at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29. Associates will install new shelving and a new refrigerator, as well as stock the pantry, providing the equivalent of more than 35,000 meals for students.
“We run out of food nearly every week, but we couldn’t accept more donations because we simply could not store them,” explained Erin Riney, director of the campus’s Center for College and Community Service. “With the new shelving and fridge, we’ll be able to better serve our students and support them as they focus on their studies.”
During September, Hunger Action Month, Food Lion is remodeling and stocking more than 30 pantries across its 10-state operating area. "The Great Pantry Makeover" is part of Food Lion's commitment to end hunger in the local communities it serves.
"At Food Lion, we believe that no student should ever have to choose between food and textbooks," said Joe Panasci, Food Lion director of operations. "That's why we're so proud to make these enhancements to the Durham Tech pantry as part of The Great Pantry Makeover and provide meals to support the important work Durham Tech does every day to ensure that no student on their campus goes hungry."
Durham Technical Community College’s Campus Harvest Food Pantry, which serves more than 400 students and their families and distributes over 16,000 pounds of food annually, was nominated for the project by Inter-Faith Food Shuttle (IFFS), as the college works toward serving even more students in need.
“Durham Tech’s pantry fits well with our successful school pantry model used in middle and high schools,” said Kyle Abrams, IFFS Childhood Hunger Programs Manager. It’s Abrams’ job to work with food donors to keep the pantry stocked with healthy groceries, including fresh produce.
“We chose them for the makeover because they are a year round pantry that serves multiple generations who could benefit from access to healthy foods. This new equipment will help make more healthy food available to people who need it.”
About Food Lion
Food Lion, based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, has more than 1,100 stores in 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states and employs more than 63,000 associates. By leveraging its longstanding heritage of low prices and convenient locations, Food Lion is working to own the easiest full shop grocery experience in the Southeast, anchored by a strong commitment to affordability, freshness and the communities it serves. Through Food Lion Feeds, the company has committed to provide 500 million meals to individuals and families in need by the end of 2020. Food Lion is a company of Delhaize America, the U.S. division of Brussels-based Delhaize Group. For more information, visit www.foodlion.com.
About Durham Tech
Since 1961, Durham Technical Community College has provided high-quality, affordable, and convenient technical and career education; served as the springboard to a bachelor’s degree; enabled tens of thousands of Triangle residents to enjoy continuing education offerings; and given many thousands more a second chance at success through adult literacy programs. With the opening of our campus in Hillsborough, we now deliver the same high-quality programs and services to the residents of Orange County. For more information, visit www.durhamtech.edu.
About Inter-Faith Food Shuttle
Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s programs overcome the root causes of hunger: lack of access to nutritious food and lack of sufficient income to purchase healthy food. We reduce food waste by recovering and distributing healthy food to those who need it most. Using food as a tool, IFFS empowers people facing hunger through education programs in nutrition, growing food in food deserts, and culinary job skills. Our focus on fresh produce and nutrition education works to lessen health problems that disproportionately affect communities living without sufficient nutritious food. We Feed. We Teach. We Grow…for a healthy and hunger-free community. www.FoodShuttle.org.