Retailer also commits $1 million donation
All food and monetary donations go directly to Food Banks Canada
MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 5, 2018 /CNW/ - No family should face the day without food. Today, Walmart Canada launched its second annual Fight Hunger, Spark Change, a national fundraising campaign calling on Canadians to join the fight against hunger. Running from April 5 to May 2, Walmart hopes to raise enough funds to secure 10 million meals to Canadian families in need through Food Banks Canada and its network of more than 550 food banks.
Customers are invited to join in the fight against hunger with Walmart, its vendor partners and Food Banks Canada. Customers can:
1. Purchase participating products: For every purchase (in-store and online at walmart.ca) of select products, participating brands will donate a portion of the proceeds to Food Banks Canada, up to a maximum of $850,000. Partners include: General Mills, Kellogg's, PepsiCo, KraftHeinz, Mars, Ferrero, Old Dutch, Maple Leaf, Unilever, Lassonde, Mondelez and Starbucks.
2. Donate at the register: From April 5 to April 27, customers will also be offered the opportunity to round up their purchase at the register to the nearest dollar. Funds donated will be matched by Walmart Canada, up to a maximum of $820,000. Donations made in store by customers and matching support from Walmart Canada will support local food banks.
3. Drop off food donations: Walmart stores will be accepting non-perishable food donations for local food banks. A donation bin can be found at the front of each store.
"Walmart Canada is committed to being part of the fight against food insecurity in Canada and ensuring Canadians have access to good, safe food," said Lee Tappenden, president and CEO of Walmart Canada. "We've partnered with Food Banks Canada, vendors, customers and associates to make a concerted effort to support Canadians in our communities who experience hunger on a regular basis."
Walmart is also donating $100,000 to Food Banks Canada's retail food program. Walmart stores are paired with local community food banks to provide safe, quality food, including fresh, frozen, and non-perishable foods, and consumer goods. In addition, the company is also donating $80,000 to support Food Banks Canada's National Food Sharing System, which helps to move approximately 10 million pounds of food annually.
"Food banks throughout Canada support hundreds of thousands of families each year, allowing them to get what they need to feed themselves and their families," said Chris Hatch, Chief Executive Officer of Food Banks. "Walmart Canada continues to be a champion for hunger relief encouraging Canadians to give back to their local food banks while maintaining their ongoing support to this campaign."
Walmart lends a hand to hunger relief
Today's Fight Hunger, Spark Change campaign announcement builds on Walmart's continued effort to making an impact on the issue of hunger in Canada. Walmart has a global commitment to providing meals to those in need. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are working to address food waste and food insecurity by supporting the work of the food bank network in Canada.
In Canada, Walmart stores have donated over 11 million pounds of food to food banks across the country through its comprehensive food diversion program. This program pairs Walmart stores with a local food bank and ensures good food is donated to those who need it most. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation also support the efforts of the food bank network to help food banks keep food fresh and safe during transport and distribute it to those in the community who need it most. In addition to food donations, Walmart Canada has donated more than $6.4 million since 2011 to Food Banks Canada and the Walmart Foundation has invested nearly $6 million to build capacity among Food Banks Canada affiliate food banks, meaning more trucks, more refrigerators and more people to get food from all sources to those who need it most. These grants from the Walmart Foundation are the first step in a multi-year, multi-million dollar commitment to strengthen food security in Canada.
About Walmart Canada
Walmart Canada operates a chain of 410 stores nationwide serving more than 1.2 million customers each day. Walmart Canada's flagship online store, walmart.ca, is visited by 600,000 customers daily. With more than 85,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada's largest employers and is ranked one of the country's top 10 most influential brands. Walmart Canada's extensive philanthropy program is focused on supporting Canadian families in need, and since 1994 Walmart has raised and donated more than $300 million to Canadian charities. Additional information can be found at walmartcanada.ca, facebook.com/walmartcanada and at twitter.com/walmartcanada.
About Food Banks Canada
Food Banks Canada supports a unique network of over 3,500 food-related organizations in every province and territory that assists more than 860,000 Canadians each month. Together this network shares over 200 million pounds of essential safe quality food annually, provides social programs that help to foster self-sufficiency, and advocates for policy change that will help create a Canada where no one goes hungry. Visit foodbankscanada.ca for more information.
SOURCE Walmart Canada
Felicia Fefer, Walmart Canada, [email protected] | 905-821-2111 x 74466; Lindsey Soper, APEX Public Relations, [email protected] | 416-934-2109; Tania Little, Food Banks Canada, [email protected] | 905-602-5234 x 250
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