Corporate Social Responsibility Press Release
provided by 
11.19.2008 - 11:00am ET
News from:
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Walmart Stores to Provide 70 Million Meals per Year to Families in Need
Wal-Mart Foundation Also Donates $2.5 Million to Purchase New Trucks and
(CSRwire) BENTONVILLE, Ark.- November 19, 2008 - With the Thanksgiving season upon
us, Walmart today announced that its Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets
will partner with Feeding America, the nation's largest charitable
hunger-relief organization, to provide an estimated 90 million pounds of
food annually – the equivalent of 70 million meals – to families in
need by the end of 2009.* Donating nutritious produce, deli
meat, beef, chicken, dairy and other groceries directly from its stores,
Wal-Mart will become one of Feeding America's largest donors of food.
In addition, the Wal-Mart Foundation announced a $2.5 million cash
donation to Feeding America. These funds will be used to help Feeding
America food banks improve warehouse capacity and purchase 20 new
refrigerated trucks to safely transport food from Walmart stores to food
pantries, soup kitchens and other Feeding America agencies.
"We are pleased to partner with Feeding America during a time of nearly
unprecedented need and provide nutritious meals for their families," said
Bill Simon, executive vice president and chief operating officer of
Walmart U.S. "Given the current state of the economy and the increased
burden on neighborhood food pantries and soup kitchens, we are enlisting
our entire network of stores and clubs to participate in this food
donation program to provide relief to communities throughout the
country."
Currently, Walmart Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets in Bentonville,
Fayetteville and Fort Smith, Ark., Denver, Colo., Ft. Wayne, Ind.,
Springfield, Mo., and Houston, Texas – in addition to over 450 Sam’s
Club locations across the U.S. – are participating in the company’s
food donation program. By the end of 2009, Feeding America expects its
affiliated community food banks across the U.S. to be connected with each
of Walmart's 2,724 Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets, and its 594
Sam's Club locations to transport food from store shelves to the tables of
families in need – often in less than 24 hours.
"Today, with the help of Wal-Mart, we take a huge step forward in helping
feed the millions of Americans who live at risk of hunger," said Vicki
Escarrra, president and chief executive officer of Feeding America. "This
new store donation program will help us rescue millions of pounds of
high-quality, nutritious food and deliver it to those who struggle to feed
themselves and their families. We are very grateful to Wal-Mart for their
continuing support of our effort to feed America."
In a recent survey, 99 percent of Feeding America's food banks said that
demand for food in communities across the U.S. has risen by 15 to 20
percent over the last year alone. Many food banks have reported even
higher increases in demand – some with requests for food growing by 50
percent in the last year. Wal-Mart is working to address this increased
need through a three-pronged approach that includes food donation, support
of local hunger relief organizations and national funding: - Food
Donation: Since the Sam's Club food donation program was first piloted
in October of 2006, nearly 13 million pounds of food have been given to
those in need – the equivalent of 10 million meals. Sam's Club locations
alone expect to donate 25 million pounds of food to Feeding America food
banks by the end of 2008.
- Local Giving: With "State Giving" grants to hunger relief
organizations in 32 states, and local funding to soup kitchens, food banks
and other hunger-focused initiatives, the Wal-Mart Foundation has
contributed more than $9.4 million towards the fight against hunger at the
state and local levels, this year alone.
- National Funding: Since first partnering with the organization
in 2005, the Wal-Mart Foundation has provided more than $14.5 million in
cash donations to Feeding America.
"I was raised in a family that
believed we have a responsibility to help our fellow man in need, and I'm
proud to see Wal-Mart – a corporate constituent – embrace that same
belief," said Senator Blanche Lincoln, co-founder of the bipartisan U.S.
Senate Hunger Caucus. "Millions of Americans are hungry every day.
Wal-Mart's generous donation of nutritious food to those most in need will
encourage others to join us in our fight to eliminate hunger."
In addition to rolling out a food donation program to food banks
throughout the country, Wal-Mart is also encouraging its customers to join
in the fight against hunger by volunteering at local food banks or
contributing via online donations to Feeding America's "Fill a Bowl, Feed
America campaign." For more information, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org/take-action
or www.walmartfoundation.org.
About Philanthropy at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and the Wal-Mart Foundation are proud to
support the charitable causes that are important to customers and
associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs
and partnerships, the Wal-Mart Foundation supports initiatives focused on
enhancing opportunities in education, job skills training, sustainability
and health. In 2007, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and the Wal-Mart Foundation gave
$296 million to communities across the United States. To learn more, visit
www.walmartfoundation.org.
About Feeding America
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel
to survive and even thrive. As the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief
charity, our network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans
each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the
entire United States, more than 200 member food banks operate 63,000
agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on
how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit
www.feedingamerica.org.
* According to the USDA's Thrifty Food
Program, an average meal is the equivalent of 1.28 pounds of
food.
Ed. Note: The terms "Wal-Mart" and "Wal-Mart Stores" refer to the
corporate entity. "Walmart," expressed as one word and without
hyphenation, refers to the brand name of the Company's U.S. operations.
This distinction came after the Company announced the introduction of a
new logo for its U.S. store operations in June.
For more information please contact:
Deisha Galberth
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
800-331-0085
News Categories:
Philanthropy/Corporate Contributions and Health & Wellness
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