The closing of five Food Lion grocery stores in the Knoxville area came as a devastating blow to the Second Harvest Food Bank.

At a regional level, Food Lion was recognized as Second Harvest’s donor of the year. In a 2002 food drive in the Southeast, Food Lion collected 7,823 pounds of food.

According to Elaine Machiela, director of Knoxville’s Second Harvest, the effects are already being felt on a local level.

“Food Lion had a huge distribution center in Clinton,” Machiela said. “We picked up daily from their stores, and they usually held holiday food drives. They were our second-largest donor.

“Overall, we’re probably going to lose about 5,000 to 10,000 pounds a month.”

With three stores remaining, Food Lion will continue to donate to the local food bank.

“We are very pleased to help our neighbors by working to reduce hunger in our local communities and abroad,” said Rick Anicetti, president and chief executive officer of Food Lion. “Food Lion is proud to be a part of the Food Industry Crusade Against Hunger and to support the efforts of America’s Second Harvest Food Banks.”

Until recently, Food Lion has donated 3,877,530 pounds of food and $393,717 in the region.

Second Harvest is able to provide one meal for every pound and about two meals for every dollar. With their contributions, Food Lion has fed 4,664,964 hungry people.

Since the closings, Second Harvest will have to depend on other stores.

“We currently receive surplus products from every grocery entity except Wal-Mart, and they’re a monetary donor,” Machiela said. “We really can’t do anything else. When they’ve shut down like they have, we just have to take the hit.

“It’s part of the business.”

For more information on Knoxville’s Second Harvest Food Bank, call 521-0000.