WILLIAMSBURG — William & Mary football and Food Lion Feeds are once again teaming up to address food insecurity among students through the annual Sack to Give Back program.
Now in its sixth year, the program is part of an ongoing effort to nourish neighbors in the towns and cities Food Lion serves.
This year, William & Mary and 33 other colleges and universities are participating at a time when nearly half of college students experience food insecurity, according to a study by the Hope Center for Student Basic Needs at Temple University. Since its launch in 2019, Sack to Give Back says it has contributed more than 3.8 million meals to college and community pantries.
Food Lion Feeds will donate the equivalent of 1,000 meals (up to 30,000 meals per school) for every quarterback sack made by the participating institution. The meals will be distributed among campus food pantries or affiliated Feeding America partner food banks.
In 2024, William & Mary football boasted 21 sacks, earning 21,000 meals for the community. In 2025, the team’s food donations will benefit the Virginia Peninsula Food Bank.
“When college students struggle to afford healthy meals, it can have a significant impact on their academic performance,” said Kevin Durkee, Manager of Food Lion Feeds for Food Lion. “Sack to Give Back gets football teams and fans involved in a unique way to help reduce food insecurity on their respective campuses, giving all students an opportunity to succeed. We are proud to continue partnering with colleges and universities to make this significant impact.”
The program will kick off in September to align with Hunger Action Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness about hunger and inspire action to end food insecurity.