A nonprofit organization in Hyde County was recently awarded $2,500 from the Food Lion Charitable Foundation to help feed local victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Hyde County Hotline received the award in January to provide food to victims of domestic abuse and sexual victimization that are receiving residential and other victim advocacy services through the agency, said Kathy Balance, director of Hyde County Hotline. The nonprofit applied for the grant for the first time through Food Lion’s online process and was selected as a recipient, Balance said.

Food Lion Charitable Trust, established in 2001, provides financial support for programs and organizations dedicated to feeding the hungry in the communities it serves, and since its inception, has awarded more than $9 million in grants, according to the Food Lion website.

Balance said the monies will be used to help victims that apply for services through the agency. The Hotline provides food for those victims that are staying at the shelter and for those who do not reside at the shelter but have a need for food in emergency situations.

“We are so grateful for the donation that we have received from Food Lion.  It helps to relieve the ever present need for families in crisis to have nutritious meals while receiving services from the program,” said Kathy Ballance, director of Hyde County Hotline. “We’re very grateful for Food Lion acknowledging the need in our community and supplementing that need to help us help our clients in Hyde County.”

Ballance said the poverty rate in Hyde County is among the highest in the state. Women and children who have reached out to the Hyde County Hotline have often come to the shelter, bringing no food, clothing, transportation or financial support and are dependent upon others for survival for a period of time. In 2014, the nonprofit served 123 victims of domestic violence in Hyde County. That includes court advocacy, accompanying victims to the hospital or any other in-person services. It also served 74 victims of sexual abuse, which includes those currently being abused and those who have been victimized in the past and are just now talking about it, Ballance said.

For more information about Hyde County Hotline, visit hydecountyhotline.org.