Area Food Lion takes a bite out of hunger

More than 87,000 people were offered a hot meal or a food box from the Hospitality House in 2008.

Food Lion of Blowing Rock donated a significant portion of that food through the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina.

Volunteers, led by parishioner Bill Parker from St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church, pick up food from the Blowing Rock grocery chain for distribution to the Hospitality House.

It’s used to help prepare three meals a day at the Bread of Life Soup Kitchen or is placed in food boxes for hungry families in our community.

In January alone, Hospitality House served more than 9,000 meals.

“The need for food and shelter continues to increase dramatically” executive director Lynne Mason said. “Each day we are serving record numbers of individuals and families. We could not meet the demand without the partnership with Food Lion and the food bank.”

The food bank reported that many of the people asking for assistance in the area are first-time requestors. 

“These are people who previously had jobs but, through no fault of their own, have lost them,” Mason added. “They need help to stretch scarce resources and obtain food, medicine, housing and fuel to take care of their families.”

Grocery chains and local restaurants are urged to participate in the program.

For more information, contact Jill Landers, director of development at (828) 262-3461. Stores or restaurants that wish to partner with the food bank may contact Erin Foster, marketing manager, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC at (336) 784-5770.

Hospitality House is a non-profit crisis intervention agency that provides shelter and services to the homeless, operates the community soup kitchen and administers WeCAN — the local crisis assistance program.