Community Partners

Food Lion's Community Commitment

Food Lion In The Community

Throughout its history and today, Food Lion strives to be a caring neighbor and good corporate citizen in the communities it serves. Through corporate and foundation giving, campaigns carried out by its more than 1,200 stores, local programs and individual employee involvement, Food Lion supports its communities and numerous non-profit organizations.

One of Food Lion's primary concerns is caring for the hungry. Food Lion partners with America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest domestic hunger relief organization. All Food Lion stores are urged to partner with a local food bank program. In 2006, through corporate donations, company campaigns, food drives and individual store contributions, Food Lion gave 25.7 million pounds of food, totaling approximately $35.6 million, to Second Harvest affiliates in 11 states.
Children's education and helping kids get a good start in life is another of Food Lion's chief concerns. Through individual stores, Food Lion offers four "CART SMART" school programs to help students reach their fullest academic potential. "Cart Smart" stands for Creative, Academic, Resource Tools. The four "Cart Smart" programs include Student of the Month, Roaring to Read, Store Tours, and Smart Start - a food safety program.
Food Lion also partners with other organizations to procure the necessary supplies for elementary school students to have a successful school year. In 2005, through the "School Tools" program in the Charlotte, N.C., region, Food Lion collected school supplies used by more than 29,400 children.
Food Lion is proud of its long time relationship with the Children's Miracle Network (CMN). CMN is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children by raising funds and awareness for 170 children's hospitals. With CMN, every dollar donated stays in the region it was raised, supporting children's hospitals. Over the past 15 years, Food Lion and its associates have donated and raised more than $20.7 million for CMN. Food Lion has pledged $1.5 million to the Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte. In 2005, Food Lion gave the Johns Hopkins Children's Center $250,000 to build a state-of-the-art inpatient playroom for the Oncology unit of a new children's hospital.

Food Lion has given $250,000 to the Duke University Children's Hospital & Health Center. This donation is supporting Duke's new Children's Food Allergy Education Program and research. Food Lion also has given substantial gifts to children's hospitals in Charlottesville, Va.; Norfolk, Va.; Washington, D.C; and Richmond, Va.
Food Lion stores are located in major metropolitan areas, small towns and rural communities. Every Food Lion store is encouraged to take an active role in its community and to be a positive influence. Local store initiatives support CMN, Easter Seals, the American Red Cross, American's Second Harvest Food Banks and the United Way. In 2005, North Carolina Food Lion stores raised more than $1.5 million for Easter Seals UCP. Food Lion's annual "Shop & Care" campaign is recognized nationally as the largest food industry fundraiser for Easter Seals UCP.
Food Lion conducts company-wide fundraising campaigns for the United Way and also supports community efforts such as Special Olympics, Toys for Tots and Happy Days and Special Times, a non-profit organization for children with cancer.
In addition, the Food Lion Charitable Foundation provides financial support for non-profit programs and organizations dedicated to improving the communities in which Food Lion operates. The Foundation primarily considers requests from three general categories: primary and secondary education, feeding the hungry, and local charitable organizations. In 2005, the Food Lion Charitable Foundation provided grants in excess of $440,000 to more than 100 schools and other local non-profit organizations.
Food Lion associates are encouraged to take part in charitable and community activities on a volunteer basis.