MANASSAS, Va. – Northern Virginia Family Service has received $1,725 from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation just in time to help feed local residents. Northern Virginia Family Service will use the gift to provide food assistance and nutrition education to the community.
“In the Greater Prince William area, hunger insecurity is a problem for nearly 30,000 individuals, nearly half of whom are children. Funding from Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation will help us continue to meet this immediate need, while also addressing the longer-term nutritional needs of local families to ensure better health and well-being overall,” said NVFS President and Chief Executive Officer, Stephanie Berkowitz.
The funding will support NVFS’ Hunger Resource Center, which typically provides more than 1,400 meals weekly for 600 households. Nutrition education is provided by individual and group consultations to help families identify and address basic as well as complex dietary needs using the USDA’s Best Practices in Nutrition Education for Low-Income Audiences. Monthly cooking classes teach families methods for recognizing, handling, and preparing different foods. NVFS also leads county-wide and regional collaborative efforts to expand the food and nutrition safety net for low-income households.
Established in 2001, the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation provides financial support for programs and organizations dedicated to feeding the hungry in the communities it serves. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $10 million in grants.
About Food Lion
Food Lion, based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, has more than 1,000 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 Ahold Delhaize USA, the U.S. division of Zaandam-based Royal Ahold Delhaize Group. For more information, visit www.foodlion.com.
About Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS)
NVFS’ breadth, depth and scope of services offer the resources and support to ensure that everyone in need, at every stage of life, maximizes their potential and fully contributes to a thriving community. We provide the essential building blocks for financial, emotional and physical well-being, serving as leaders and innovators for the Northern Virginia community. Every year, we empower 35,000 individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency. With these essential resources, our community is better equipped for future success and engagement among all of our neighbors. For more information, visit www.nvfs.org.