Winston-Salem, N.C.—July 16, 2008 —In response to low food inventories at the area’s regional Second Harvest Food Bank and rising demand for emergency food assistance among the many local food pantries that rely on the organization for food, corporate partners Food Lion and Tyson Foods are stepping up to help.

”We know that times are hard right now for many families,” said Peggy Dooley-Isley, Community Development specialist with Food Lion. “Planning for Food Lion’s annual holiday food drive to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank is underway, but we wanted to respond to the immediate need.”

Food Lion will donate two pallets of non-perishable staple canned food items this week. Throughout the year, selected partner agencies of Second Harvest Food Bank are matched with Food Lion stores across northwest North Carolina to ensure that edible food donations from its stores reach the hungry and others in need. In 2006, through corporate donations, company campaigns, food drives and individual store contributions, Food Lion gave 25.7 million pounds of food, totaling approximately $35.6 million, to America ’s Second Harvest affiliates in 11 states.

Tyson Foods recently donated 3,360 cases or 50,400 pounds of beef steak to be distributed to Second Harvest’s partner agencies. Tyson Foods also is a longstanding partner of America ’s Second Harvest Food Banks and has donated more than 50 million pounds of Tyson products to hunger and disaster relief efforts throughout the country since 2000.

These gifts to Second Harvest Food Bank reflect both companies’ commitment to be a part of the solution to alleviate hunger in our community and across the nation, and are extensions of corporate-level partnerships with America ’s Second Harvest –The Nation’s Food Bank Network.