Converse University recently received $2,400 from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation to help nourish University community members experiencing food insecurity.
The Nourishing our Neighbors grant supports community feeding partners by helping neighbors increase their access to nutritious food, nutritional education and other beneficial resources. University officials say the funds will support Valkyrie Supply, Converse’s basic needs hub located on campus.
Valkyrie Supply is a one-stop shop for food and hygiene items for members of the university community and is sustained through donations and monetary gifts. Converse director of Community Engagement and University chaplain Eliza Smith DeBevoise says the grant will be used to purchase food items and support nutritional education for campus.
“We are overwhelmed with appreciation for the support that the Foundation continues to provide our Converse community,” she said of the gift. “We cannot thank the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation enough for committing their support to Converse and our students experiencing food insecurity.”
The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation previously granted the University $1,500 in 2023, as well as a $10,000 disaster relief grant in 2024 to rebuild after Hurricane Helene. Since its inception in 2001, the Foundation has awarded more than $25 million in grant funding to help nourish communities with fresh food.
