Kurt Dills, manager of the Columbus Food Lion, and Food Lion team members present Outreach’s executive director, George Alley, with a check for the $2,500 grant.

Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry has received a $2,500 grant from the 2015 Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation just in time to feed local residents. This grant will be used to purchase food for Outreach’s pantry in order to feed the hungry.

“We are so grateful for the support provided by both the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation and by our local Food Lion store,” said George Alley, Outreach’s executive director. “In addition to this grant of financial support, the Columbus Food Lion store donated over 28 tons of food to our pantry during 2015! Over half of that food was fresh, healthy produce,” said Alley.

Established in 2001, the Food Lion Charitable Foundation provides support for programs and organizations dedicated to feeding the hungry in the communities it serves.  Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $9 million in grants.

For more than 50 years, Food Lion has been a strong philanthropic partner in the communities it serves. As a grocer, Food Lion’s business is food. The company believes that no one should have to choose between dinner and paying rent or gasoline and buying groceries. Through Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion is working to create a better tomorrow by uniting with customers and partners to eliminate the choices families are forced to make when they are hungry. By the end of 2020, the company has pledged to provide 500 million meals to families in need in its local communities. For more information, visit www.foodlion.com/feeds.

Outreach is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1991. The organization’s mission is to provide compassionate assistance to Polk County residents who are unable to provide for their basic life needs.  For more information on Outreach, please visit www.tboutreach.org or call 828-894-2988.

-Submitted by Wendy Thomas