Knoxville, Tenn. – As Walmart and the Walmart Foundation continue
“Walmart Gives Back,” a holiday giving initiative that will provide $32 million in monetary and in-kind donations to charitable organizations across the U.S., a refrigerator truck donated by the Walmart Foundation will arrive at Second Harvest East Tennessee today to help feed Knoxville families in need. The truck is one of 35 that departed from Madison, Wis., earlier this month headed to Feeding America food banks in local communities across the country.
In addition to the donated truck, Walmart presented Second Harvest East Tennessee with a $40,000 donation from the company’s state giving program, to help feed families in need this fall.
Valued at $85,000, the new truck and 12 pallets of Great Value-branded products and fresh apples will arrive in Knoxville in time for Thanksgiving. Feeding America estimates the new trucks will help Second Harvest East Tennessee and 34 additional food banks to transport up 52.5 million pounds of food, the equivalent to 41 million additional meals, per year.
“In this economy, families and seniors across the country who rely on food banks have been hit especially hard,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. “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.”
“We are so excited to celebrate Walmart’s generosity today, as it continues to help those in need throughout our community,” said Elaine Streno, executive director or Second Harvest East Tennessee. “Walmart has been a strong community partner, and has supported our organization with food donations, monetary donations, and now with the donation of a refrigerator truck, which will enable us to bring fresh, healthy food to those who desperately need it.”
Walmart’s donated food trucks are in response to a call from food banks that were unable to safely transport nutritious produce, deli meat, beef, chicken, dairy and other groceries. Since last November, 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, exceeding the company’s goal and making Walmart Feeding America’s largest food donor.
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 raise funds 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. For more information, visit www.walmartgiving.com.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on creating opportunities in education, work force development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From February 1, 2008, through January 31, 2009, Walmart – and its domestic and international foundations – gave more than $423 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.
About Second Harvest East Tennessee
Second Harvest East Tennessee distributes food to roughly 140,000 hungry people every month through a network of Partner Agencies throughout East Tennessee. Agencies are nonprofit organizations dedicated to feeding the hungry and include church pantries, shelters, group homes, local kitchens, after-school program sites, rehabilitation centers and many others.
Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee is part of a national network of foodbanks called Feeding America. Feeding America members cover every county in America. Second Harvest of East Tennessee serves 18 counties in East Tennessee, delivering food as far west as Crossville and as far east as Gatlinburg.
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