​Walmart Foundation Awards $360,000 To Ohio Nonprofits

From Walmart: Walmart and the Walmart Foundation today announced Stark County Hunger Task Force (SCHTF) has been awarded a $40,000 grant to support its mission to fight hunger in the county through its network of local food pantries. The grant was provided by the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Council. The grant will enable SCHTF to provide 280,000 pounds of food to those in need through the 33 pantries in the county. According to interim executive director Ralph Norton, 15 percent of the visitors to those pantries are seniors and most of those are on fixed incomes and may have to choose between medication and food.

Others struggle between buying food and paying utility bills during the winter months. “On behalf of the 28,000 individuals a month to whom Stark County Hunger Task Force provides free food, we appreciate the Walmart Foundation’s help to feed our hungry neighbors in Stark County,” Norton said. “Despite reports of a growing economy, many residents still have difficulty putting food on the family table.” Over the next couple of weeks Walmart representatives will be making several presentations around the state of Ohio to recognize 12 nonprofit organizations and announce a total of $360,000 in grants from the State Giving Council. The State Giving Program awards grants to organizations that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S. Grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations that serve a particular state or region and work to fight hunger, support children and education, promote environmental sustainability or provide workforce development opportunities. “At Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, we understand that organizations such as the Stark County Hunger Task Force is essential to building stronger communities.

This organization, through its efforts to address hunger and food insecurity throughout the county, shares our values in helping families and individuals, especially our children, to live better,” said Ray Hartman, Walmart Market Manager. To be considered for support through the State Giving Program, perspective grantee organizations must submit applications through the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program’s online grant application. Applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in order to meet the program’s minimum eligibility criteria.

Additional information about the program’s funding guidelines and application process are available online at www.walmartfoundation.org/stategiving. As part of Walmart’s $2 billion commitment to fight hunger through 2015, Walmart stores in Ohio donated 26 million pounds of food, in fiscal year 2015, or the equivalent of 22 million meals. In fact, Walmart reached $260 million in cash and $2.6 billing in in-kind donations nationwide, delivering on its commitment one year early. Additionally, just in the last fiscal year, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation gave $49.7 million to Ohio nonprofits. For more information on Walmart’s fight against hunger, visit http://foundation.walmart.com/our-focus/hunger.

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