Wal-Mart announced that its Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets will partner with Feeding America, a 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.
In addition, the Wal-Mart Foundation announced a $2.5 million cash donation to Feeding America. This money will be used to help Feeding America food banks improve warehouse capacity and purchase 20 new refrigerated trucks to safely transport food from Wal-Mart stores to food pantries, soup kitchens, and other Feeding America agencies.
Wal-Mart Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets in Bentonville, Fayetteville, and Fort Smith AR; Denver CO; Fort Wayne IN; Springfield MO; and Houston TX—as well as more than 450 Sam’s Club locations nationwide—are participating in the food donation program. By the end of 2009, Feeding America expects its affiliated community food banks across the United States to be connected with each of Wal-Mart’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.
The retailer is also encouraging customers to volunteer at local food banks or contribute via online donations to Feeding America’s "Fill a Bowl, Feed America campaign."
To learn more, visit www.feedingamerica.org/take-action or www.walmartfoundation.org/.
