Hosting their first nationwide food drive at all Walmart stores
Calling on Facebook fans to vote for communities that will receive $1.5 million in grants
Donating 65 refrigerated food trucks to Feeding America network food banks
Helping Salvation Army provide meals with a $1 million donation
Leveraging resources to reach out to Americans facing food insecurity
Walmart and Walmart Foundation will engage the millions of Americans who shop at Walmart stores and use its Facebook page to help elevate the issue of hunger in America. This effort is an extension of Walmart's existing $2 billion commitment through 2015 to help end hunger in America, announced by the company earlier this year.
“We must face the fact that there are people who go hungry in this country every day. These are our neighbors and people we see throughout our daily lives,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. “This issue has to be top of mind when we sit down at dinner and when we eat breakfast, and we all have to commit to doing something to help. If all of us give one can of food or volunteer one hour at a food bank, if we all do one thing, together we can end hunger in this country.”
Programs in detail
A USDA report released in November 2010 reinforced the ongoing issue of hunger in America. As a result, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have organized the following programs as part of its 2010 holiday campaign to fight hunger across the country. For more information on these commitments, visit www.walmart.com/fightinghunger or www.facebook.com/walmart.
Nationwide Food Drive From Nov. 15 through Nov. 22, each of Walmart’s 3,700 stores nationwide will participate in the company’s first in-store food drive. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, the company is calling on customers to donate non-perishable food items, which will in turn be donated to local food banks. To kick off the food drive, the company made the first donation – providing more than nine truckloads of food to food banks in Houston, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami, Charleston, Valdosta, Ga., Tallahassee, Atlanta and Birmingham.
Hunger Relief on Facebook From Nov. 15 through Dec. 31, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are encouraging people to visit Walmart’s Facebook page and help decide which cities should receive $1.5 million in grants to fight hunger. Participants will choose from a list of 100 communities where hunger rates are the highest – the city with the most support will receive $1 million in grants and the next five cities with the highest support will receive $100,000 each.
100th Refrigerator Food Truck Donated and More on the Way Walmart and the Walmart Foundation will give its 100th refrigerator food truck to Feeding America through a donation to Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio. Walmart’s 100th truck donation is one of 65 refrigerator food trucks that will be given to Feeding America food banks this holiday season. Valued at nearly $6 million, the refrigerator food trucks allow food banks to safely transport fresh produce, deli meat, beef, chicken, dairy and other nutritious food donated from Walmart stores and other grocers to those in need.
Holiday Hunger Relief Grants Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are providing grants to organizations and nonprofits committed to fighting hunger in the United States, including a $1 million grant to the Salvation Army that will be used to purchase meals for families in-need and $4.6 million in funds to local food banks.
Additionally, the Salvation Army Red Kettles will fundraise at Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations nationwide from Nov. 26 to Dec. 24.
Hunger relief
Now, more Americans than ever are relying on hunger relief organizations to help put food on the table. During the 2010 holiday season, the Walmart Foundation will help meet this increased demand through support of food banks and partnerships with organizations including:
Meals on Wheels Association of America During the 2009 holiday season, the Walmart Foundation provided a $2.2 million grant to help fund 140 Meals on Wheels member programs across the nation that serve seniors. This donation will dramatically increase the number of meals the recipient programs are able to serve. Learn how you can take action with the Meals on Wheels member program in your neighborhood.
Feeding America Walmart and its Foundation are committed to hunger relief with over 70 million meals donated since November 2008. We continued our focus on hunger by donating 35 refrigerator trucks filled with Great Value-branded products and fresh apples to Feeding America food banks across the country. Help feed those in need in your own neighborhood by supporting the Feeding America food bank closest to you.
The Salvation Army For more than 20 years, Walmart has shown support for The Salvation Army by raising funds in front of Walmart and Sam’s Club locations nationwide during the holidays. You can even donate online. Donations to the "Red Kettle Campaign" are used to help people in need across the country. Get involved and support the efforts of The Salvation Army nearest you.
Meals on Wheels Association of America
Feeding America
The Salvation Army
