'Walmart gives back' for the holidays

BENTONVILLE, Ark. 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 historic 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 refrigerator trucks will arrive at Feeding America food banks in Miami, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Boston, Memphis and 30 other communities in time for Thanksgiving. Feeding America estimates that these refrigerator 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 refrigerator 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 last November, Walmart stores and Sam's Club locations have donated more than 90 million pounds of food to Feeding America food banks, exceeding the company's goal and making Walmart Feeding America's largest food donor.

In addition, the Walmart Foundation 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.

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 nonprofits in the communities where Walmart's 4,000 stores and clubs are located. In addition, the Walmart Foundation will, once again, donate $1.25 million to The Salvation Army and Red Kettles will fundraise at Walmart stores and Sam's Club locations nationwide from Friday, Nov. 27 through Thursday, Dec. 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.