Food Lion Feeds and North Carolina Campus Engagement Launch Collegiate Hunger Challenge

Each school is paired with a local Food Lion store to support annual hunger-relief competition

• Food Lion Feeds and North Carolina Campus Engagement are leading the 2026 North Carolina Collegiate Hunger Challenge, which runs from Sept. 7 through Dec. 18 with 12 participating colleges and universities.
• Each participating school will have a local Food Lion store contact to support student-led food drives, educational events and campus pantry efforts.
• Food Lion Feeds and North Carolina Campus Engagement will award $25,000 to four winning schools: $10,000 to the Grand Hunger Champion and $5,000 to each of three sector champions.

SALISBURY, N.C. – Students at 12 North Carolina colleges and universities are participating in the 2026 North Carolina Collegiate Hunger Challenge, led by Food Lion Feeds and North Carolina Campus Engagement. The annual competition empowers MVP Student Hunger Ambassadors to raise awareness of food insecurity, connect students with available resources and help improve access to food on and around their campuses. Food Lion Feeds is Food Lion's hunger-relief platform.

The challenge runs from Sept. 7 through Dec. 18. During the competition, MVP Student Hunger Ambassadors can earn points for food drives, educational events, fundraising efforts and other activities aimed at educating students, faculty and staff about food insecurity and local hunger-relief resources.

Food Lion Feeds and North Carolina Campus Engagement will award $25,000 to recognize four winning schools: a $10,000 prize for the Grand Hunger Champion and a 5,000 prize for each Sector Hunger Champion (community college, four-year public college and four-year independent institution).

Participating Schools:

Throughout the competition, students will have a local Food Lion contact to support hunger-relief initiatives and help strengthen connections between campus and community resources. Store leaders are prepared to serve as local hunger relief ambassadors and work with student teams on activities such as food drives and campus pantry support.

"Students understand the needs on their campuses and bring creative ideas to help address them," said Kevin Durkee, Manager, Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion. "By connecting each school with a local Food Lion store, we can support their efforts and build relationships that strengthen this work. Together, we're helping students access the food they need to learn, grow and succeed."

During the 2025 Collegiate Hunger Challenge competition, participating schools hosted more than 120 awareness events and reached more than 10,700 students, staff, faculty and community members. Their activities included food drives, pantry renovations and educational programs.

"The Collegiate Hunger Challenge gives students an opportunity to lead meaningful change on their campuses," said Leslie Garvin, Executive Director, North Carolina Campus Engagement. "As student ambassadors engage their peers, they help reduce the stigma around seeking food assistance and build awareness of available resources."

Since 2019, the North Carolina Collegiate Hunger Challenge has awarded more than $185,000, equivalent to more than 1.8 million meals*.

Through Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion has helped provide more than 1.5 billion meals to individuals and families since 2014 and has committed to donating 3 billion meals by 2032. To learn more about Food Lion Feeds and its hunger relief efforts, visit foodlion.com/feeds.

*$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local partner food banks.

About Food Lion
Food Lion is an omnichannel grocery retailer committed to nourishing its neighbors. More than 82,000 associates across 1,100+ stores deliver an easy, fresh and affordable shopping experience throughout 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. With a focus on hunger relief, Food Lion is a pioneer in food rescue. Since 2014, the company's hunger relief platform Food Lion Feeds has donated more than 1.5 billion meals to those who are food insecure. The retailer has committed to donate 3 billion meals by 2032. Founded and based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, Food Lion is a company of Ahold Delhaize USA, the U.S. division of Zaandam-based Ahold Delhaize. For more information, visit foodlion.com. 

About North Carolina Campus Engagement
North Carolina Campus Engagement is a collaborative network of colleges and universities committed to preparing students for civic and social responsibility, partnering with communities for positive change and strengthening democracy. Learn more at nccampusengagement.org .