Walmart Foundation donates $12 million to hunger-relief organization
The Walmart Foundation has made a major grant to Feeding America as food insecurity continues to grow across the country as a result of COVID-19.
The Walmart Foundation is granting Feeding America $12 million over two years. Walmart is also encouraging its stores, Sam’s Clubs and distribution centers in the U.S. to commit funds and to continue to make product donations to hunger-relief organizations through the end of the year.
The Walmart Foundation grant to Feeding America will support critical work that aims to reduce barriers and increase access to food assistance for people facing hunger, including expanding Order Ahead, the organization’s click and collect app, which enables food-insecure neighbors to order food from a food bank or partner organization and pick it up at a convenient location, drive-thru, home delivery or locker.
The grant will also provide significant capacity investments for several member food banks to increase the amount of food they are able to source and distribute to people in need in their communities, as well as support digital ads and one-on-one application assistance for those in need of benefits and resources.
“The Feeding America nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 pantries and meal programs works hard every day to help our neighbors who face hunger, especially during this time of crisis,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “We are tremendously grateful to Walmart and the Walmart Foundation for their generous support and their long-standing commitment to fighting hunger in every community across the country. Their support has been transformational for the fight to end hunger.”
For years, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have supported hunger-relief organizations, and this year is no exception. Since Feb. 1 of this year, more than 5,000 hunger-relief organizations have received support from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation through the donation of 480 million pounds of food and over $55 million in grants for hunger relief. Complemented by these efforts, Walmart customers, Sam’s Club members and suppliers have raised nearly $18 million for hunger relief.
In Walmart’s work to use its business strengths alongside philanthropy in fighting food insecurity, the company’s stores, clubs and distribution centers across the U.S. were encouraged earlier this week to appoint a hunger champion to help coordinate holiday hunger relief efforts. Employees are reaching out to local nonprofits to assess their needs and learn how the company can best meet the demand. Many Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs have already been helping organizations fight the battle against hunger in their communities this holiday season.