Walmart awards $25,000 in grants to Belvidere food pantry, donates refrigerated truck to Food Bank

From press release

CAPRON, Ill.—As a part of Walmart’s commitment to fighting hunger, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have announced that the Belvidere/Boone County Food Pantry received $25,000 in grants, and a new refrigerated food delivery truck has been delivered to their partner in fighting hunger, the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

The Belvidere/Boone County Food Pantry is a nonprofit organization that provides food, non-food products, clothing and other household products to the needy in Boone County. The Pantry desires to be a bridge to help transition those facing hard times until they become self-sufficient. Our goal is to give people hope and to make a difference in their lives. The grant is to support their Job Readiness Program, which helps make their clients more employable by guiding them on how to effectively develop a resume’ and coaching them on how to conduct a successful interview, as well as providing a place to apply for jobs online, and interview-appropriate clothing. Their food distribution program allows eligible clients to receive food on a monthly basis.

“Our donations from various companies, individuals, churches and clubs have fallen short these past 12 months, so when we received a grant for $25,000 from the Walmart State Giving Program, we were delighted. We are serving 2,000 people each month, and this grant will enable us to continue serving the people living in poverty in our county,” said Linda Clark, executive director of the Belvidere/Boone County Food Pantry.

In addition, the Northern Illinois Food Bank also received one of the 65 refrigerated food delivery trucks donated this year by the Walmart Foundation nationwide to help increase access to nutritious and fresh food to families, seniors and children in need in northern Illinois. The refrigerated truck is part of the Walmart Foundation’s response to a call from food banks across the nation that had an increasing demand for nutritious and fresh food for a growing number of people, families and seniors in need. The new refrigerated food delivery truck is the second to be donated to the Northern Illinois Food Bank. It will help the NIFB deliver food to more than 500,000 people annually throughout their 13-county region.

“Walmart has been, and continues to be, huge supporters in the fight against hunger locally and nationally. It is because of corporate partnerships, like this one, that we are able to address the 35 percent increase in demand our partner agencies have reported,” says NIFB CEO and President H. Dennis Smith.

“As a company, we operate globally but look for opportunities to give back locally,” said Dan Ketchum, Walmart market manager. “We’re pleased to support both the Belvidere/Boone County Food Pantry and Northern Illinois Food Bank. Walmart and its Foundation are proud to support their mission to increase access of nutritious and fresh food to the many people and families who live daily with food insecurity.”

The most recent food security report from the USDA depicts hunger as a challenge so significant that it can only be solved if government contractors and community organizations work together. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to applying its unique business strengths to address the growing problem of hunger.

Walmart has recently announced a $2 billion commitment to help end hunger in America. Through the “Fighting Hunger Together” initiative, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation will give $250 million in grants to hunger relief organizations and donate more than 1.1 billion pounds of food from Walmart stores, distribution centers and Sam’s Club locations, valued at $1.75 billion.

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