Charlotte Hornets Seal Food Lion Partnership

September 17, 2014

Newly rebrande NBA franchise Charlotte Hornets announced today that the organisation has teamed up with Food Lion on a multi-year, multi-faceted partnership that establishes Food Lion Feeds as the Official Hunger Relief Partner of the Charlotte Hornets.

The two organisations tipped off the partnership this afternoon at Highland Renaissance Academy in Charlotte, N.C., by distributing more than 9,500 meals to 300 school families with the help of Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina’s mobile food pantry.  Hornets players Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Cody Zeller lent a helping hand by participating in today’s meal distribution.  The partnership and food donations are part of Food Lion’s inaugural Week of Service and the company’s commitment to provide 500 million meals by the end of 2020.

“We are extremely happy to welcome Food Lion Feeds as the Official Hunger Relief Partner of the Charlotte Hornets,” said Hornets Sports & Entertainment President & COO Fred Whitfield. “Food Lion Feeds and the Charlotte Hornets share a desire to assist in our community and are committed to help end hunger in the Carolinas. Hunger is a growing concern and with this partnership, both organizations can continue to join forces to provide the necessary resources to those in need.”

As the Official Hunger Relief Partner of the Charlotte Hornets, Food Lion Feeds has committed to provide more than 300,000 meals over three years, including continued support of the Charlotte Hornets Foundation’s annual Cornucopia event, which provides 1,000Thanksgiving meals to low-income families. In addition, the Hornets and Food Lion Feeds will donate 200 turkeys to WFNZ’s (610 AM) annual Street Turkeys initiative.

“We are honored to serve as the Official Hunger Relief Partner of the Charlotte Hornets,” said Beth Newlands Campbell, President of Food Lion.  “When I was a store manager, I saw firsthand the tough choices customers are sometimes forced to make to feed their families. In difficult times, many people have to decide whether to pay rent, buy groceries or purchase gasoline to get to work, because they simply cannot do all three.

“At Food Lion, we believe no one should have to choose between dinner and paying rent or gasoline and buying groceries. We’re committed to working to end hunger and making the lines shorter at Charlotte feeding agencies through Food Lion Feeds.”