Food Lion is making a difference for Piedmont Community (PCC) students by donating supplies to the college’s food assistance program and rolling up their sleeves to help pack bags for those in need.
Domonica Langley, PCC’s AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) Pacer Food Insecurity Projects Coordinator, initially reached out to R.J. Guill, the store manager of Food Lion on Durham Road in Roxboro, with a simple request for a donation to PCC’s food assistance program. AmeriCorps is the federal agency connecting individuals and organizations through service and volunteering to tackle the nation’s most pressing challenges. More specifically, VISTA is a national service program through AmeriCorps dedicated to fighting poverty by equipping nonprofit organizations and public agencies with the resources they need to lift communities out of poverty. What she didn’t expect was for that request to turn into something even bigger.
Guill connected with his regional director, Delony Spraggins, and other stores in the region to donate even more supplies than Langley anticipated. Even after agreeing to donate the supplies, the manager asked if there was something more they could do to help.
On Friday, March 28, 11 regional representatives from Food Lion, along with PCC students and employees, worked together to pack 200 bags for PCC’s two food assistance programs: Forgot Your Lunch and Pacer Food Pantry. Both programs allow for PCC students to take what they need with no questions asked.
“This kindness that Food Lion has shown the PCC community exceeded what I imagined or hoped for, and I am beyond grateful it did,” Langley said. “Not only is there a desire to make a contribution with donations, but to also engage with our student and staff community and support it overall through volunteerism—such a rare and valuable offering.”
“Food Lion’s generosity goes beyond just donations—it’s about community, compassion and making a real impact in the lives of our students,” Dr. Shelly Stone-Moye, PCC Vice President of Student Development said. “Every day, we see students facing food insecurity, and this contribution of approximately 3,500 food resource items and 2,000 reusable bags will make a meaningful difference. We are truly grateful for their partnership in ensuring our students have the support they need to succeed.”
The Food Lion manager noted that this is hopefully the first of many collaborations with PCC.
Anyone wishing to donate to PCC’s food assistance program can contact Langley at domonica.langley@piedmontcc.edu or (336) 322-2196.
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