ROCKINGHAM — One local food bank is one of 26 in 10 states selected for The Great Pantry Makeover by Food Lion.
Our Daily Bread Christian Food Ministry in Rockingham will be remodeled and have its shelves restocked as part of Food Lion Feeds’ “largest associate volunteer initiative.”
According to a press release issued Monday, Food Lion Feeds, the grocery store chain’s hunger relief initiative, will donate more than three million meals and more than 1,000 volunteer hours over the 30-day action.
The Great Pantry Makeover, now in its eighth year, takes place every September in correlation with Hunger Action Month, and Food Lion Feeds has helped to renovate nearly 260 food pantries since 2015, according to a press release.
“We are proud to partner with Feeding America during Hunger Action Month to help raise awareness of this nationwide effort to help end hunger,” said Food Lion Feeds Manager Kevin Durkee, said in a press release. “The Great Pantry Makeover provides our associates a great opportunity to connect with their neighbors while nourishing the towns and cities we serve.”
Including Our Daily Bread, Food Lion Feeds is renovating seven pantries in North Carolina, five each in South Carolina and Virginia, three in Tennessee, two in Georgia, and one each in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Gene McLaurin, chair of the Our Daily Bread board, said the food pantry has been in the process of remodeling the warehouse over the past few months, including cleaning the floors, painting and installing new shelving.
“We’re grateful for the support from Food Lion,” McLaurin said. They’ve been a great partner for us.”
Our Daily Bread is also a partnering agency with United Way of Richmond County, which is gearing up for its annual Days of Caring later this week.
In July, the Mineral Springs Improvement Council and Helping Hands of Hamlet each received $2,000 from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation “to combat food insecurity and provide nutritional education to their communities.”
(Note: United Way information added after initial publication. 7:47 p.m. 9-12-22.)
