NORTH CAROLINA — Food Lion Feeds is launching its annual Great Pantry Makeover initiative this month, providing comprehensive renovations to 33 food pantries across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The month-long program coincides with Hunger Action Month and represents the company’s ongoing commitment to addressing food insecurity in local communities.

Comprehensive Pantry Renovations Address Growing Need

The Great Pantry Makeover initiative will transform food pantries through complete facility upgrades, including painting, cleaning, and equipment installation. Each participating pantry will receive new shelving, freezers, coolers, and other essential equipment designed to increase storage capacity and improve access to fresh produce and nutritious foods.

Food Lion associates will contribute more than 1,500 volunteer hours throughout September to support the renovation efforts. The company will also stock all 33 pantries with over 92,000 pounds of shelf-stable food items donated through Food Lion Feeds.

Decade-Long Impact on Food Security

Since its inception in 2015, the Great Pantry Makeover program has supported or renovated more than 350 food pantries. The initiative represents part of Food Lion Feeds’ broader mission, which has provided more than 1.5 billion meals to individuals and families since the platform’s founding in 2014.

“At Food Lion Feeds, we’re committed to nourishing our neighbors and setting them up for success in life,” said Kevin Durkee, Manager of Food Lion Feeds. “Through The Great Pantry Makeover, we’re not only providing resources to expand access to nutritious food but also creating meaningful opportunities for our associates to connect with their neighbors and make a lasting impact.”

Multi-State Pantry Partnerships

This year’s makeover recipients span seven states, with participating pantries located in Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, and South Carolina. The selected pantries serve diverse communities, from urban centers like Roanoke, Virginia, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, to smaller towns such as Fincastle, Virginia, and St. George, South Carolina.

Notable participating organizations include established hunger relief providers such as the Albany Rescue Mission in Georgia, The Salvation Army of Greenwood in South Carolina, and the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank Market Fresh in Virginia.

2025 Great Pantry Makeover Recipients

Strategic Timing During Hunger Action Month

The initiative’s September timing aligns with national Hunger Action Month, when organizations across the country focus attention on food insecurity issues. Food Lion Feeds has strengthened its partnership with Feeding America® to maximize the program’s impact during this critical awareness period.

The timing also allows renovated pantries to be fully operational ahead of the holiday season, when demand for food assistance typically increases.

Ambitious Future Commitments

Food Lion has set an ambitious goal to donate 3 billion meals by 2032, building on its current track record of 1.5 billion meals provided since 2014. The company operates more than 1,100 stores across 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, employing over 82,000 associates.

As a subsidiary of Ahold Delhaize USA, Food Lion has positioned itself as a leader in food rescue initiatives and hunger relief programs. The company’s omnichannel approach combines traditional grocery retail with comprehensive community support programs.

Food Lion, founded in Salisbury, North Carolina in 1957, operates as part of Ahold Delhaize USA, the American division of Netherlands-based Ahold Delhaize. More information about Food Lion Feeds and the company’s hunger relief initiatives is available at foodlion.com/feeds.