The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Feeding America Launch “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” Campaign to Combat Hunger
[NORFOLK, VA] May 2, 2019 – One in eight Americans in communities across the U.S. struggle with hunger, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including over 166,250 food insecure individuals in Southeastern Virginia and on the Eastern Shore. To raise awareness and combat the issue, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Feeding America® and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore are kicking off the sixth annual nationwide “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” (FHSC) campaign, which will run until May 20.
In partnership with the Foodbank for Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, Walmart and Sam’s Club now invite Hampton Roads shoppers to help fight hunger in their local community. There are three ways to participate – purchasing a participating item in-store or online, donating in-store, or donating on Feeding America’s website.
With 749 million meals donated nation-wide over the last five years, Hampton Roads customers and members can help the Feeding America network achieve its 1 billion cumulative meals goal in three ways. They can track the number of meals by visiting www.walmart.com/fighthunger.
- For every participating product purchased at U.S. Walmart stores, Sam’s Clubs or on Walmart.com during the campaign, the supplier will donate the monetary equivalent of at least one meal ($0.10) on behalf of a Feeding America member food bank, up to applicable limits.
- Donate money to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore at check out in any of the Sam’s Club and Walmart stores in South Hampton Roads.
- Donate at feedingamerica.org/Walmart.
Walmart kickstarted the campaign with a $3 million donation to Feeding America and member food banks including the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. Each Walmart and Sam’s Club is tied to at least one of the 200 local Feeding America member food banks where donations will be sent. Donations made at Walmart and Sam’s Club stores within the Foodbank’s service area will be directed to the Foodbank by Feeding America.
A purchase of one of the 267 participating items helps secure the equivalent of one meal. Each Walmart and Sam’s Club will partner with at least one Feeding America local food bank, and the 18 participating suppliers include: Bush Brothers, Campbell’s, Conagra Brands, Cliff Bar, General Mills, Gold Peak Tea, Great Value, Hidden Valley, JM Smucker, Kellogg, Kraft Heinz, McCormick, Motts, PepsiCo, Post, Uncle Ben’s, Nature Nate’s Honey and Unilever.
“We are pleased to partner with Walmart once again on the ‘Fight Hunger. Spark Change.’ Campaign,” said Ruth Jones Nichols, CEO, Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. “We look forward to the opportunity to generate additional funds for our programs and services, while also keeping the community engaged in our efforts to eliminate hunger in Southeastern Virginia and on the Eastern Shore.”
To further galvanize the community around the fight against hunger, The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore launched a social media awareness campaign. The campaign will feature comments written on plates and photographed at various landmarks in the region — highlighting thoughts from clients on food insecurity.
“As we go into our sixth year of the ‘Fight Hunger. Spark Change.’ campaign, it’s exciting to approach the 1 billion mark in terms of charitable meals secured for Feeding America over the life of the program,” said Kathleen McLaughlin, chief sustainability officer for Walmart. “Food insecurity continues to affect communities across the United States. Working with Feeding America, our customers, members, associates and suppliers, Walmart and Sam’s Club aim to be part of the solution.”
Over the last two years, the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore benefited from over $350,000 from Walmart and Sam’s Club’s commitment to fight hunger. Walmart has been as longstanding partner of the Foodbank – funding a series of capacity building grants that support several of the organization’s initiatives, including the Food Rescue and Backpack Programs.
To learn more about the campaign visit www.walmart.com/fighthunger.
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About Walmart
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, over 275 million customers and members visit our more than 11,300 stores under 58 banners in 27 countries and eCommerce websites. With fiscal year 2019 revenue of $514.4 billion, Walmart employs over 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/walmart.
About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 46 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
About the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore
For over 35 years, the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore has provided over 290 million meals to those in our community who face hunger. Through our programs, facilities, and large network of community partners, we “eliminate hunger” on a daily basis for many. However, we understand that our current work addresses hunger for individuals in the short term. It does not address the root causes which force individuals to return to a food pantry again and again. This understanding has led to the creation of a new 3-year strategic plan aimed to move Hampton Roads closer to achieving the mission of eliminating hunger for those we serve – not only for the day, or for the week, but for a lifetime. For up-to-date information on the Foodbank, visit www.foodbankonline.org, Facebook, or Twitter.
Contact: Kelli Webb at 757.606.0281; kelliwebb@thekbdgroup.com