"In this economy, families and seniors across the country who rely on food banks have been hit especially hard. As Walmart stores continue to be the price leader on groceries, our partnership with Feeding America is helping us do our part to put more food on the dinner table. Our business and our charitable giving are united in the commitment to eradicate hunger in America.”
Margaret McKenna, President of The Walmart Foundation
Deeply committed to ending domestic hunger, Walmart is one of Feeding America’s top corporate donors. Since first partnering with Feeding America in 2005, the Walmart Foundation has provided more than $14.5 million in cash donations and expects to donate 90 million pounds of food to food banks across the country by the end of 2009. Additionally, Walmart made a $3 million commitment in June 2009 to provide Feeding America with more than 30 new refrigerator trucks, enabling safe and easy transportation of food for food banks.
“We are committed to doing what we can to address basic, unmet needs – especially during these difficult economic times. Our partnership with Feeding America is critical in our efforts to help assure that families have nutritious meals on their tables,” said Margaret McKenna, Walmart Foundation president. “We know that there is an increased burden on neighborhood food pantries and soup kitchens, and are working with Feeding America and other organizations to provide relief to communities throughout the country.”
Through partnerships with Feeding America and other charitable organizations, Walmart is committed to fighting domestic hunger and helping Americans live better, particularly in the current times of incredible need. The Walmart Foundation’s expansion of hunger relief efforts includes food donation, food bank support and feeding hungry children.
Walmart is also a leader in Feeding America’s Store Donation Program, contributing nutritious produce, meat and dairy products from Walmart’s shelves to local food banks. In addition, Walmart has been actively committed to the BackPack Program and the national Summer Food Service Program, for children who lose access to the free and reduced-price meals when school is out for summer vacation.
Financial donations to Feeding America include $2.5 million in November 2008 to help improve the organization’s warehouse capacity and purchase more than 20 new refrigerated trucks to safely transport food from Walmart stores to food pantries, soup kitchens and other Feeding America agencies; $1.5 million in April 2008, which provided 16 million meals and allowed for the addition of thousands of children to participate in the BackPack Program; and $1 million in December 2007, which sent trucks filled with food to Feeding America food banks in all 50 states.
“Walmart is a dedicated, generous leader in hunger relief and in feeding hope to millions of people across the country,” said Vicki Escarra, President and CEO of Feeding America. “No American should go hungry, and we are truly honored to have Walmart partner with Feeding America, providing both food and funds in the fight against domestic hunger.”
Walmart was named Feeding America’s 2010 Donor of the Year for outstanding donations of food, funds and vehicles in 2009. Food donations from Walmart and Sam’s Club in 2009 totaled more than 116 million pounds, the largest-ever annual food donation to Feeding America in the organization’s history.