SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion’s hunger relief program has donated more than 6.6 million meals to food-insecure families this holiday season, the retailer said Wednesday.

Customers supported Food Lion Feeds’ “Holidays Without Hunger” campaign by buying and donating specially marked, prepacked “Holidays Without Hunger” food boxes for $5 each, or making cash donations at the register during the campaign, which ran from November 10 through December 14. The food boxes were then donated directly to the 33 local Feeding America member food banks or their partner feeding agencies in the store’s community. All cash donations benefitted Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the country.

“Far too many of our neighbors are being forced to make difficult choices this holiday season between things like gas and groceries, and dinner and rent,” Food Lion Feeds manager Kevin Durkee said. “Nourishing our neighbors in the towns and cities we serve is core to everything we do. This was our largest ‘Holidays Without Hunger’ campaign to date, and we’re excited that so many customers joined us to help fight hunger and make a difference in their local community.”

Over the past seven years, through “Holidays Without Hunger” box sales and cash donations, Food Lion Feeds and customers have helped to provide more than 25 million meals to neighbors in need, the company said, noting that a $1 donation helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks.

More information about Food Lion Feeds and its “Holidays Without Hunger” campaign is available here.