How Walmart Plans to Fight Hunger in America
The anti-hunger movement got some major backing today when representatives from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, The Band Perry, Kimberly Williams-Paisley and four of the nation’s largest food companies — General Mills, ConAgra Foods, Kraft Foods and Kellogg Company — announced they have come together to fight hunger this spring.
At an event in Nashville, leaders of this effort launched a campaign that will enable millions of Americans the opportunity to get involved by shopping at Walmart or visiting the company’s Facebook page today, April 9, through April 30.
Spring traditionally brings a decrease in donations to food banks, leaving them unable to meet the needs of nearly 49 million Americans who at some point this year will be uncertain where their next meal will come from.
To help bridge this gap, Walmart is inviting customers to visit one of its 3,854 Walmart stores and Neighborhood Markets nationwide and purchase products from participating suppliers that will help provide meals to families struggling with hunger.
[ Also Read: Fighting Hunger Together with Walmart ]In-store signs will help direct customers to participating products and on-package labels will advise customers how to generate meals by entering product codes online, sharing a hashtag on Twitter or scanning a QR code.
Recently, Baskin-Robbins, a leading chain of ice cream specialty shops, invited guests to try its new Iced Cappy Blast beverage in a nationwide effort to help Feeding America, a domestic hunger-relief charity, provide up to one million meals for local food banks. (Read: Baskin-Robbins’ Offer for Feeding America)
Earlier, Feeding America and the Ad Council launched a new series of national public service advertisements (PSAs) featuring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and other actors, designed to motivate Americans to get involved in the fight against hunger. (Read: Celebs Join Hands to Combat Hunger in the U.S.)
“Hunger is a defining issue for America as millions struggle to put food on the table every day. Helping fight hunger is something our associates, customers and supplier partners believe in and together we can help make a positive impact on this issue,” said Jack Sinclair, executive vice president of Walmart’s U.S. grocery business. “Simply by going into a Walmart store or going online, every consumer in America has the opportunity to join this effort.”
Through this effort, more than 42 million meals will be donated to Feeding America food banks and Action for Healthy Kids.
Customers can also visit Walmart’s Facebook page to vote for one of 200 communities hardest hit by unemployment. The community with the most votes will receive $1 million to help fight hunger.
The next 20 communities will each receive $50,000 for hunger relief. The Facebook campaign will also provide information on how users can donate or volunteer with hunger fighting organizations in their local communities.
To participate in the Facebook campaign, visit www.facebook.com/walmart. To learn more about the program, including details on participating products, visit www.walmartstores.com/fightinghunger.
