Posted on September 23, 2007

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America's Second Harvest Receives $4 Million From Wal-Mart Foundation

Chicago-based America's Second Harvest — The Nation's Food Bank has announced a grant of $4 million from the Wal-Mart Foundation in support of the organization's BackPack program and other initiatives to feed hungry Americans.

BackPack provides food to at-risk children on weekends and out-of-school periods when federal breakfast and lunch programs are not available. Through the program, backpacks filled with non-perishable and easily prepared food are discreetly distributed to children on Fridays or before a holiday vacation. Select food banks will use funds from the grant to purchase food and supplies for the program, which currently operates in forty states and Washington, D.C., and provides backpacks to approximately fifty thousand children a week.

The grant will also be used to support nutritious food and produce programs, transportation of food items to food banks, and the expansion of the organization's existing store pick-up program. In addition, Wal-Mart and America's Second Harvest have been named as finalists for a Corporate Citizenship Award for their efforts to fight hunger in America; the award is sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Business Civic Leadership Center.

"We are delighted that Wal-Mart has made such an incredible commitment to ending hunger in America, and we are proud to count them among our strongest supporters," said America's Second Harvest president and CEO Vicki Escarra. "Expanding food distribution and feeding more children are among our most critical priorities. Wal-Mart's recent contributions will have a tremendous effect on the lives of thousands of Americans living with chronic food insecurity."

“Wal-Mart Donates $4 Million to America's Second Harvest.” America's Second Harvest Press Release 9/13/07.

Primary Subject: Agriculture/Food
Secondary Subject(s): Children and Youth, Human Services
Location(s): National, Washington, DC

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