Hickory – The annual Oktoberfest celebration in Hickory, Oct. 11-13, will once again feature the construction of a Castle of Cans to help feed those in need in Catawba County. The county-wide canned food drive provides added supplies to soup kitchens and agencies that help families in need in our communities.

For the third year, Food Lion is donating 5,000 pounds of canned goods to the castle through its Food Lion Feeds hunger relief initiative.

“As a proud member of the Hickory community, Food Lion is passionate about ending hunger in the towns and cities we serve,” said Angela Wheeler, Food Regional Community Relations Specialist “Through our Food Lion Feeds initiative, Food Lion has committed to donate 1 billion meals by 2025 because we believe that no one should have to choose between dinner and rent or gas and groceries. We look forward to continuing to serve the Hickory community for many years to come.”

Castle of Cans coordinator Carleen Crawford said, “We are so appreciative of the boost that Food Lion’s donation gives to the Castle of Cans. For the past 19 years, students of all ages around the county have donated the cans to build the castle. Seeing the generosity of a local grocery chain can only help them with their enthusiasm for the food drives in their schools.”

The Susan L. Coleman Castle of Cans is the charitable community service component of Oktoberfest. Hickory Downtown Development Association sponsors the event and St. Alban’s Episcopal Church coordinates the food drive. Most of the cans are collected through drives conducted by students in public and private schools throughout Catawba County, but drives are also held at some churches, businesses and community organizations.

If you would like to donate to the drive, you may bring cans at any participating school or to two community drop off locations: CertaPro Painters of Hickory/Catawba Valley/High County, 747 4th Street SW and Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse on 2nd Street NW in Hickory and 2 Pink Magnolias, 211 N. College Ave. in Newton.

Last year our community collected 20,231 pounds or 10.2 tons of food that was distributed to the following agencies: The Corner Table of Newton, Eastern Catawba County Cooperative Christian Ministries, Exodus Homes, The Family Care Center, Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministries, The Hickory Soup Kitchen, The Salvation Army, and Second Harvest Food Bank.

For information about Oktoberfest, please contact 828-322-1121. For information about the Castle of Cans, please contact Carleen Crawford at 828-781-0845. For information about Food Lion, please contact Benny Smith at 704-608-6737.

About Food Lion
Food Lion, based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, has more than 1,000 stores in 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states and employs more than 63,000 associates. By leveraging its longstanding heritage of low prices and convenient locations, Food Lion is working to own the easiest full shop grocery experience in the Southeast, anchored by a strong commitment to affordability, freshness and the communities it serves. Through Food Lion Feeds, the company has donated more than 500 million meals to individuals and families since 2014, and has committed to donate 1 billion more meals by 2025. Food Lion is a company of Ahold Delhaize USA, the U.S. division of Zaandam-based Royal Ahold Delhaize Group. For more information, visit www.foodlion.com.