|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wal-Mart helps St. Louis Area Foodbank stock shelves as part of
nationwide donation of 3 million meals
**Retailer dispatches trucks filled with
food to all 50 states in order to help feed those in need this
holiday season
St.
Louis (December 18, 2007) - In response
to a nationwide shortage of food and groceries in food banks,
Wal-Mart today announced the St. Louis Area Foodbank will receive a
truck filled with food as part of a nationwide donation providing
more than 3 million meals to those who need it most. In total,
Wal-Mart is supporting the dispatch of more than 50 trucks – one to
every state – to provide much-needed food to food banks across the
nation. The local donation in St. Louis will be delivered to the
distribution center of the St. Louis Area Foodbank at 10 am this
morning. Wal-Mart associates and volunteers will help dispense food,
which will be sent to local agencies all over St. Louis.
We
understand that many communities are facing hunger due to food
shortages at food banks this Christmas,” said Greg Bergmann, Senior
Operations Executive in St. Louis. “For this reason, we are happy to
be in a position to help our partners at St. Louis Area Foodbank feed
those in need."
|
 |
"Wal-Mart has donated
consistently to the St. Louis Area Foodbank now for a number of
years," said Frank Finnegan, executive director of Foodbank.
"This effort is a wonderful response to the nationwide call to action
and will help food banks and families in need throughout the
country." |
|
Wal-Mart associates volunteering at the Foodbank |
"Wal-Mart has donated
consistently to the St. Louis Area Foodbank now for a number of
years," said Frank Finnegan, executive director of Foodbank.
"This effort is a wonderful response to the nationwide call to action
and will help food banks and families in need throughout the
country."
Wal-Mart was alerted to the
potential food bank shortage through a call to action sent out by its
philanthropic partner, America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food
Bank Network. St. Louis Area Foodbank is a part of the network, and
will utilize Wal-Mart’s contribution to provide nearly 60,000 meals
to local residents in need.
Wal-Mart stocked the trucks with
such staples as macaroni and cheese, oatmeal, peanut butter and
jelly, spaghetti noodles and sauce, as well as corn, beans and
potatoes. All trucks will arrive at food banks just in time for the
holidays.
The partnership between Wal-Mart
and America’s Second Harvest began in 2005, when the two
organizations worked together to support hurricane relief efforts.
Since that time, the company and its customers have contributed
approximately $15 million, which has been distributed to food banks
across America to help feed individuals at risk of hunger. In
addition, Wal-Mart works exclusively with America’s Second Harvest on
its food reclamation program, which last year provided 14 million
pounds of dry grocery items valued at $21 million to food banks and
related organizations across the U.S.
“We are extremely grateful to Wal-Mart for coming through in such a
big way for our food banks to help more hungry Americans as we face
one of the worst shortages of food bank supplies in our history,”
said Vicki Escarra, President, America’s Second Harvest. “We hope
that other corporations, organizations and individuals are able to
dig a little deeper this year so that no one goes hungry, especially
over the holidays."
About Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) :
Every week,
millions of customers visit Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters,
Neighborhood Markets, and Sam’s Club locations across America or log
on to its online store at
www.walmart.com. The company and its Foundation are committed to
a philosophy of giving back locally. Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is proud to
support the causes that are important to customers and associates
right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $270
million to local communities in the
United States. To learn more, visit
www.walmartfacts.com,
www.walmartstores.com, or
www.walmartfoundation.org.
About The St. Louis Area Foodbank: The St. Louis Area Foodbank feeds hungry people by distributing food through its member
agencies, and educates the public about the nature of and the
solutions to the problems of hunger. The
Foodbank gathers and distributes nearly 13.4 million pounds of
food each year to 500+ food pantries, homeless shelters, soup
kitchens and emergency feeding programs throughout 14 counties in
eastern Missouri and 12 counties in southwestern Illinois.
### |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
· |
If you or your company would like more information about conducting
a food drive or fundraiser for the St. Louis Area Foodbank, please contact: |
|
|
|
Lenora Young
Director of Product Sourcing
(314) 292-5395
lyoung@stlfoodbank.org |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matt Dace
Associate Director
(314) 292-5392
mdace@stlfoodbank.org |
|
|
|
Make a donation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
