Walmart and the Walmart Foundation kicked off “Walmart Gives Back,” a holiday giving initiative that will provide $32 million in monetary and in-kind donations to charitable organizations across the United States. Executives from Feeding America and Meals On Wheels joined Walmart to launch the campaign by sending off a convoy of 35 trucks donated by the Walmart Foundation.
Valued at $3 million and loaded with Great Value-branded products and fresh apples, the new refrigerated trucks will arrive at Feeding America food banks in Miami FL, Indianapolis IN, New Orleans LA, Boston MA, Memphis TN, and 30 other communities in time for Thanksgiving. Feeding America estimates that these refrigerated trucks will enable the food banks to transport up to 52.5 million pounds of food—the equivalent of 41 million additional meals—per year.
The donated refrigerated trucks are the Walmart Foundation’s response to a call from food banks that were unable to safely transport nutritious produce, deli meat, beef, chicken, dairy, and other nutritious food donated from Walmart stores and other grocers. Since November 2008, Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations have donated more than 90 million pounds of food—the equivalent of 70 million meals—to Feeding America food banks.
In addition, the Walmart Foundation has announced a $2.2 million grant to Meals On Wheels Association of America. Through this funding, 140 Meals On Wheels programs across the nation will upgrade or replace delivery vehicles, stoves, refrigerators, and freezers. These improvements will help increase the number of meals provided to the one in nine seniors facing the threat of hunger.
As in years past, the majority of Walmart’s holiday giving will happen at the local level, with more than $24 million donated from the Walmart Foundation to non-profits in the communities where Walmart’s 4,000 stores and clubs are. In addition, the Walmart Foundation will once again donate $1.25 million to The Salvation Army and Red Kettles will fund-raise at Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations nationwide from November 27 through December 24.
Later this holiday season, Walmart will announce additional recipients of its Walmart Gives Back holiday giving initiative. For more information, visit www.walmartgiving.com.
