Walmart commits $2B to food banks, local programs
By EL CONQUISTADOR
ST. CHARLES – Walmart has announced a $2 billion commitment over five years through its “Fighting Hunger Together” to fight domestic hunger, benefiting Feeding America and other charitable organizations, including the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
The Northern Illinois Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s network of food banks, and holds the honor of being Food Bank of the Year 2010.
In 2008, the Northern Illinois Food Bank was chosen by Sam’s Club, a division of Walmart, to pilot the first Food Recovery Program through which the food bank collected perishable foods, including meat, produce and bakery goods from area stores. Based on the success of the food bank’s efforts, Walmart expanded the program to every food bank in America. In 2009, Walmart and Sam’s Clubs donated more than 116 million pounds of food to food
banks.
In the past 10 months, Walmart has made substantial contributions to the local fight against hunger.
Nearly 2 million pounds of food have been donated to the Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Food Recovery Program, $17,100 in funding has been given and a new refrigerated truck has been provided to enable the food bank to add stores to its growing program.
“Walmart and Sam’s Club have been tremendous supporters of our food bank and we are grateful for their ongoing efforts to address the growing hunger needs in our communities,” food bank CEO and President H. Dennis Smith said in a news release. “It is humbling to think that the Northern Illinois Food Bank was the starting point for such a great humanitarian effort that is now providing top-quality food to millions of hungry Americans, as well as the folks we serve in northern Illinois.”
To learn about the Northern Illinois Food Bank, call 630-443-6910 or visit www.northernilfoodbank.org.
