Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Food Bank & Sort-A-Rama Packing Event for April 5th

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Food Bank & Sort-A-Rama Packing Event for April 5th

From story submitted on March 18, 2023

Elizabeth City – Food Bank of the Albemarle celebrates 40 years of famine relief in the area on Wednesday April 5th^th with a free community event open to the public. The event will include tours of the new facility, complimentary dining and the return of the Sort-A-Rama Food Wrapping Contest.

“This is a monumental year for the Food Bank and we want to invite the community that has supported us over the past four decades to join us in celebrating,” said Liz Reasoner, Executive Director. “We are excited to show our expanded facility, including the new teaching kitchen, which will help us position ourselves as a ‘nutrition bank’ as our efforts focus on improving the overall health of the community through nutritious eating and healthy choices .”

The event start time is 4:30pm which includes the kickoff for the teams participating in the Sort-A-Rama Pack Madness event. The teams consist of up to 12 people and pack as many apples as possible within 45 minutes. The Sort-A-Rama event is made possible by the 40^th Anniversary sponsor: Food Lion, who plans several teams for the competition.

“Food Lion believes that nobody has to choose between dinner and rent or fuel and groceries,” said Stephanie Oakley, community relations specialist, Food Lion. “We are passionate about ending hunger in the cities where we operate. The Food Bank of the Albemarle provides an invaluable service to the local community and does exceptional work every day to eliminate the choices families must make when they are hungry. Food Lion and Food Lions Feeds are proud to support the Food Bank of the Albemarle during their 40th anniversary^th Anniversary and throughout the year as we work together to feed our neighbors in need and create a brighter future, meal after meal.”

• Tours of the facility are offered by food bank staff. The Elizabeth City Fire Department is grilling hamburgers and hot dogs for guests and volunteers while supplies last.
• At 5:30pm, the Elizabeth City Chamber of Commerce will cut a ribbon to support the dedication of the new facility.
• The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required for all Sort-A-Rama teams and event guests are asked to register in advance.

For more information, contact Brian Gray at 252-335-4035 ext. 113 or email [email protected] or visit www.afoodbank.org

About the Albemarle’s Food Bank

The Food Bank’s mission is to help end hunger and poverty in our 15-county serving area of ​​Northeast North Carolina. We are a regional clearinghouse for the collection and distribution of food and grocery items to over 100 nonprofit and religious organizations for 155 food programs and to individuals in need of assistance. For more information, call (252) 335-4035 or visit www.afoodbank.org.

About FoodLion

Food Lion is an omnichannel retailer committed to feeding its neighbors in the moments that matter most. More than 82,000 associates in over 1,100 stores offer a simple, fresh and affordable shopping experience across 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. Through its “Count on Me” culture, Food Lion fosters a sense of belonging in all employees and fosters a diverse and inclusive environment that has supported LGBTQ+ equality for nearly two decades. Food Lion is the only company in the country to be named ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for 21 consecutive years. It also pioneered a food rescue program to support food insecure neighbors. Through Food Lion Feeds, the retailer has donated more than 1 billion meals to individuals and families since 2014 and has committed to donating 1.5 billion meals by 2025. Founded in 1957 in Salisbury, NC, Food Lion is a subsidiary of Ahold Delhaize USA, the US subsidiary of Ahold Delhaize based in Zaandam. Visit foodlion.com for more information.