Food on the move: Food Bank launches mobile pantry
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina now has a new mobile food pantry.
At news conference Tuesday, Food Lion announced the donation of the vehicle - valued at more than $100,000 - and vowed to provide 500 million meals to those in need by the end of 2020.
Governor Pat McCrory thanked the grocery store chain for its investment in the community.
"This is not just about business," McCrory said. "It's about giving back to the community. Thats what Food Lion has always done since they first formed in 1957 and that's what they're doing now in 2015."
The vehicle allows the food bank to take food directly to the people who need it the most.
"It really is a first of its kind mobile pantry and what we know is people who are in need and need food and go hungry sometimes have constraints that don't allow them to get to food pantries or food distribution access so this mobile pantry allows us to go to them," Food Lion President Meg Ham said.
Food Lion also announced renovations to 162 stores in the greater Raleigh area.
The company is giving away groceries to the first 100 customers at each of their stores on Wednesday. The giveaways start at 8 a.m.
