One in eight Americans in communities across the U.S. struggle with hunger, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Nearly 72,000 people right here in the Southern Tier experience food insecurity. To raise awareness and combat the issue, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Feeding America® and the Food Bank of the Southern Tier are kicking off the sixth annual nationwide “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign, which will run from April 22 to May 20.
In partnership with the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, Walmart and Sam’s Club now invite shoppers in Chemung, Steuben, Schuyler, Broome, Tioga and Tompkins Counties 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, Southern Tier customers and members can help the Feeding America network secure 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 your local Feeding America food bank at participating Sam’s Club and Walmart stores in the U.S.
- Donate at feedingamerica.org/Walmart.
Walmart kickstarted the campaign with a $3 million donation to Feeding America and member food banks including the Food Bank of the Southern Tier. 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 grateful for community partnerships which make our work possible,” said Natasha R. Thompson, President & CEO of the Food Bank of the Southern Tier.
“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, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier received more than $50,000 (enough to help provide 150,000 meals) from Fight Hunger. Spark Change.