Walmart, Second Harvest team up to fight hunger

PONDERAY — One in eight Americans in communities across the U.S. struggle with hunger, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That number holds true in the Inland Northwest and includes one in five children.

To raise awareness and combat the issue, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Feeding America and Second Harvest are sponsoring the sixth annual nationwide “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign, which will runs to Monday, May 20.

In partnership with Second Harvest, Walmart stores throughout the Inland Northwest invite 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 achieved over the last five years, Walmart customers in the Inland Northwest can help the Feeding America network secure its 1 billion cumulative meals goal through the three ways listed below. They can track the number of meals secured by visiting walmart.com/fighthunger.

Walmart kickstarted the campaign with a $3 million donation to Feeding America and member food banks, including Second Harvest. 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.

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.

“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.”

Last year, Second Harvest benefited from more than $150,000 from Walmart and Sam’s Club’s commitment to fight hunger. That generosity provided food for 750,000 meals for people in need in communities throughout the Inland Northwest.

“We were honored and humbled to receive this very generous gift and others in previous years. Walmart Inc. is truly fighting hunger in a big way with donations that are feeding thousands of the most vulnerable people in our communities,” said Julie Humphreys, Second Harvest community relations manager.

Information: walmart.com/fighthunger