For Immediate Release
November 5, 2009

Walmart Donates $85,000 refrigerator truck to regional food bank
Donated truck part of $32 Million Holiday Giving Campaign
and Historic Hunger Relief Effort by Walmart and the Walmart Foundation

    FORT WORTH, Texas (November 5, 2009) – A refrigerator truck donated by the Walmart Foundation will arrive at Tarrant Area Food Bank today as part of “Walmart Gives Back”—a holiday giving initiative by Walmart and the Walmart Foundation that will provide $32 million in monetary and in-kind donations to charitable organizations across the U.S. The truck coming to Tarrant Area Food Bank is one of 35 that departed from Madison, Wis., earlier this month headed to Feeding America food banks in local communities across the country.

    Walmart’s gift to Tarrant Area Food Bank includes not only the truck, which is valued at $85,000, but also 12 pallets of Walmart’s Great Value-branded products and fresh apples, which are scheduled to arrive Friday, Nov. 6.

    Feeding America estimates the new Walmart trucks will help 35 food banks, including Tarrant Area Food Bank, transport up to 52.5 million pounds of food—the equivalent of 41 million additional meals—per year.

    “In this economy, families and seniors across the country who rely on food banks have been hit especially hard,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. “As Walmart stores continue to be the price leader on groceries, our partnership with Feeding America is helping us do our part to put more food on the dinner table. Our business and our charitable giving are united in the commitment to eradicate hunger in America.”

    “We salute Walmart for this very generous contribution to the fight against hunger, “ said Bo Soderbergh, executive director, Tarrant Area Food Bank. “ During the past year Walmart has become one of our largest and most dedicated donors. This truck will make a significant difference in our ability to access donated food,” he said.

    Walmart’s donated food trucks are in response to a call from food banks needing to safely transport nutritious produce, deli meat, beef, chicken, dairy and other groceries. Since last November,

    Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations have donated more than 90 million pounds of food – the equivalent of 70 million meals – to Feeding America food banks, exceeding the company’s goal and making Walmart Feeding America’s largest food donor.

    As in years past, the majority of Walmart’s holiday giving will happen at the local level with more than $24 million donated from the Walmart Foundation to nonprofits in the communities where Walmart’s 4,000 stores and clubs are located. In addition, the Walmart Foundation will, once again, donate $1.25 million to The Salvation Army and Red Kettles will fundraise at Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations nationwide from Friday, Nov. 27 through Thursday, Dec. 24.

    Later this holiday season, Walmart will announce additional recipients of its Walmart Gives Back holiday giving. For more information, visit www.walmartgiving.com.

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About Philanthropy at Walmart

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on creating opportunities in education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From February 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009, Walmart–and its domestic and international foundations – gave more than $423 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

About Tarrant Area Food Bank

As a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, Tarrant Area Food Bank collects nonperishable and perishable fresh, prepared and frozen food from grocers and other food businesses to distribute to 300 hunger-relief charities in 13 counties. Much of the perishable food collected from retailers such as Walmart is converted by the Food Bank’s Community Kitchen into frozen meals for distribution by partner charities to hungry families and individuals in their communities.

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