Walmart Raises $50,830 for Second Harvest Food Bank

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Walmart announced that Mahoning Valley residents generated a total of $50,830 for Second Harvest Food Bank to help fight hunger in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

Walmart’s “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign encouraged people across the nation to take action against hunger and help families in need through simple acts of support online, in-store purchases and donations. Nationwide, the campaign raised more than $19.8 million to support Feeding America and its nationwide network of food banks.

“Most people think to donate to food banks during the holiday season, but thanks to the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign we can address this issue during the spring and summer months when donations are often lowest. We’re delighted with this year’s campaign results and the funds we receive will help us fill nearly 15,000 requests for food assistance each week in the Mahoning Valley,” said Michael Iberis, executive director, Second Harvest Food Bank.

The campaign called on the public to take action and help fight hunger from April 17 through May 15.

According to the USDA, one in eight Americans, including 13 million children, currently struggle with hunger and in the Mahoning Valley, 87,350 people face hunger.

The campaign is part of Walmart’s commitment to provide meals to those in need. In October 2014, Walmart announced a commitment to create a more sustainable food system, with a focus on improving the affordability of food by lowering the “true cost” of food for both customers and the environment, increasing access to food, making healthier eating easier, and improving the safety and transparency of the food chain. This commitment includes a goal of providing four billion meals to those in need in the U.S. by 2020.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.