University receives donation from Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation

Wingate University has received $2,000 from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation to help nourish neighbors experiencing hunger. The Feeding the Hungry grant supports community feeding partners by helping neighbors increase their access to nutritious food and providing nutrition education to eliminate health risks for those experiencing food insecurity.

Wingate will use the grant to help stock Paw Provisions, a free store run by the University in Northeast Residence Hall. Paw Provisions provides nonperishable food items, fresh meals, drinks and materials on the "dignity wall," such as feminine-hygiene and travel-size products. According to Dr. Catherine Wright, executive director of the University's Collaborative for the Common Good, Paw Provisions opened 55 times last academic year and served more than 2,770 students, many of them repeat customers.

"Wingate University Paw Provisions Free Store was created in 2022 in order to address the growing food insecurity on our campus in a way that was free from shame and judgment - a place where people could feel cared for and empowered," Wright says. "This generous grant will continue to help WUPP stock our shelves in ways that serve our campus and help our students achieve their academic and athletic goals."

The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the grocery-store chain Food Lion, is committed to supporting families facing food insecurity across its 10-state footprint. Established in 2001, the foundation provides financial support for programs and organizations dedicated to feeding local neighbors in the communities it serves. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $18.9 million in grants.

For more information, visit www.foodlion.com/pages/food-lion-feeds.

Aug. 8, 2024