Hundreds of Indiana food pantries, homeless shelters and soup kitchens will see much more fresh produce thanks to a $125,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation given today to the Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana. “This generous grant from Walmart allows Gleaners to distribute at least two million servings of fresh fruits and vegetables to hungry Hoosier families in the 21 Indiana counties we serve,” said Cindy Hubert, Gleaners’ president and CEO
Hubert said hunger in Indiana forces some Hoosiers to make decisions between other life necessities and healthy food. At 2010 study conducted by Feeding America shows how Indiana hungry have to make those decisions:
- 46 percent of clients in Indiana report having to choose between paying for food and paying for utilities or heating fuel
- 42 percent had to choose between paying for food and paying their rent or mortgage
- 36 percent had to choose between paying for food and paying for medicine or medical care
- 37 percent had to choose between paying for food and paying for transportation
- 39 percent had to choose between paying for food and paying for gas for a car
“Walmart’s community involvement is based on the philosophy of operating globally and giving back locally. In our experience, we can do the most good by supporting issues and causes that are important to our customers and associates in their own neighborhoods,” said David Reitnauer, (pronounce: RITE-now-er) Walmart vice president and regional general manager, headquartered in Indianapolis.
The contribution to Gleaners’ program was made possible through the Walmart Foundation’s Indiana State Giving Program and is part of the Foundation’s historic pledge of $2 billion through year 2015 to help the hungry in America by:
- Donating more than 1.1 billion pounds of food from Walmart stores, distribution centers and Sam’s Club locations, valued at $1.75 billion;
- Grants totaling $250 million to support hunger relief organizations at national, state and local levels;
- Mobilizing Walmart associates and customers. For example, Walmart’s logistics team will lend their expertise to help food banks become more efficient in their operations; and collaborating with government, food manufacturers and other corporations that are fighting hunger to increase impact and reach a greater number of families in need.
Through this program, the Walmart Foundation supports organizations that create opportunities so people can live better. The Walmart Foundation State Giving Program strives to award grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S.
To be considered for support, prospective grantee organizations must submit applications through the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program’s online grant application. Eligible applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in order to meet the program’s minimum funding criteria. Additional information about the program’s funding guidelines and application process are available online at foundation.walmart.com/apply-for-grants/state-giving .
In 2011, Indiana Walmart stores, Sam’s Club locations and the Walmart Foundation gave more than $26.8 million in cash and in-kind donations to local organizations in the communities they serve. Through additional funds donated by customers and Walmart and Sam’s Club associates around the state, Indiana contributions totaled more than $29.7 million.
Walmart collected on behalf of Indiana more than $336.6 million in sales taxes in FYE 2012. Walmart paid more than $70.4 million in state and local taxes in Indiana in FYE 2012. In FYE 2012, Walmart spent $1.8 billion for merchandise and services in Indiana supporting nearly 73,500 supplier jobs. (Supplier figures provided by Dun & Bradstreet.) corporate.walmart.com/our-story/locations/united-states/indiana
About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to helping people live better through philanthropic efforts that align with the company’s core business strengths. By operating globally and giving back locally, Walmart is uniquely positioned to address the needs of the communities it serves and make a significant social impact within its core areas of giving: Hunger Relief and Nutrition, Sustainability, Workforce Opportunity and Women’s Economic Empowerment. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are leading the fight against hunger in the United States with a $2 billion commitment through 2015. To date, Walmart has donated more than 1 billion pounds of food to those in need across the country. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit: foundation.walmart.com.
About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at over 10,000 retail units under 69 different banners in 27 countries. With fiscal year 2012 sales of $444 billion, Walmart employs 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmartnewsroom. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.