Children First/Communities in Schools receives $1,500 from Food Lion Charitable Foundation

Press Release

From Children First:

(Asheville, N.C. – Children First/Communities in Schools (CIS) has received $1,500 from the Food Lion Charitable Foundation to help feed local residents. Children First/CIS will use the gift to support its food pantry at its Family Resource Center at Emma. (FRCE)

“Right now in Buncombe County, one out of every four children is at risk for hunger,” says Allison Jordan, executive director of Children First/CIS. “Children First/CIS advocates at the state and national level for policies that address child hunger. In the meantime, however, we provide food boxes for families in need to help put dinner on the table. We appreciate this donation from the Food Lion Charitable Foundation, so that we may serve more food-insecure families.”

Last year, the food pantry at the FRCE provided a total of 684 food boxes to 213 households. These families include Ms. Emily’s (pictured), a 77-year-old grandmother of three who is the sole provider for her grandchildren. She recently came into the Children First/CIS Family Resource Center at Emma (FRCE) to pick up a food box. Because of support from The Food Lion Charitable Foundation and other community partners, the FRCE food pantry can continue to support Ms. Emily and other families.

Established in 2001, the Food Lion 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 $9 million in grants.

Food Lion, based in Salisbury, NC, is a company of Delhaize America, the U.S. division of Brussels-based Delhaize Group (NYSE: DEG). Food Lion, with a longstanding heritage of low prices and convenient locations operates more than 1,100 supermarkets in 10 Southeastern and Mid Atlantic states, and employs approximately 57,000 associates. For more information, visit www.foodlion.com

Children First/Communities In Schools of Buncombe County is a local non-profit that provides programs to economically disadvantaged children & families. These include: Family Resource Center at Emma, Latino Outreach, Learning Centers, Success Coordinators, Project POWER/AmeriCorps, and advocacy. Children First’s mission is to empower children and their families to reach their full potential through advocacy, education and services. The mission of Communities In Schools is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. To find out more go to www.childrenfirstcisbc.org.