The community of the Inland Empire helped to raise a total of $176,298.57 for local families in need through the 11th annual Walmart and Sam’s Club Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign. With an estimated 530,000 people in Riverside and San Bernardino facing hunger, the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign has been a way for food banks, like Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB), to partner with Walmart, Sam’s Club, associates, and suppliers to help provide more meals to people in need.
"It is a true joy to once again partner with incredible supporters through the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign,” said Carolyn Fajardo, CEO at FARSB. “For 11 years, this initiative has been a steadfast ally in our mission to provide not just nourishment but hope and joy to families across our community,” said Fajardo.
Each Walmart and Sam’s Club was matched with at least one of 200 local Feeding America® partner food banks. Through the campaign, shoppers made monetary donations at checkout or purchased participating items in stores or online to benefit their local food bank. For every participating product purchased, the participating supplier donated to FARSB.
To date, the campaign has provided over 2 billion meals* to Feeding America® food banks nationwide. Locally, funds raised in the Inland Empire sustain FARSB’s daily operations, supporting food pick-ups, efficient receiving and loading, and facility upkeep. This critical support ensures FARSB can meet and expand to address the growing needs of their community.
“Fighting hunger across the country is part of our purpose to help people live better,” said Kayla Burton, senior manager, cause marketing and customer engagement at Walmart. “We’re grateful to the Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, customers, members, and suppliers who came together to support their local Feeding America food banks through this year’s Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign.”
For nearly 20 years, Walmart, Sam's Club, and the Walmart Foundation have worked with Feeding America, local food banks, food pantries, and meal programs to transform the charitable food experience, supporting Feeding America and local food banks with more than $240 million in investments – more than $160 million from the company and the Walmart Foundation and nearly $95 million from customers and members.
For this year’s campaign, the 20 participating suppliers for Walmart include: Bush Brothers & Company; CELSIUS® Essential Energy Drink; The Clorox Company, The Coca-Cola Company; Conagra Brands; Dole Packaged Foods; Ferrara; Ferrero; General Mills; The Hain Celestial Group; Hershey Salty Snacks; Kellanova; W.K. Kellogg Company; Keurig Dr Pepper; Kodiak; Kraft Heinz; Monster Energy; Pepsi-Cola Advertising & Marketing, Inc.; Red Bull; Unilever.
The 8 participating suppliers for Sam's Club include: General Mills; W.K. Kellogg Company; Kraft Heinz; Nestlé; Nissin; Nongshim; Palmetto Gourmet Foods, A Borealis Foods Company; Unilever. To learn more about how you can join the fight to end hunger, visit www.FeedingIE.org
*$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local partner food banks.
About Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino
Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) is leading the fight against hunger in the Inland Empire by providing food access, emergency relief, education, and advocacy to families in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. FARSB opened in 1980 as Survive Food Bank in response to the increasing concern about the dual problems of hunger and food waste in the Inland Empire. Today, FARSB is the primary food source for over 250 local nonprofit organizations, distributing over 2.7 million pounds of food monthly to emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, high-need elementary schools, senior centers, after-school programs, and more. With the help of these community partners, they make up the largest hunger-relief organization serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, ultimately making food security a reality for over one million households every year. Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino proudly holds the 2024 Guide Star Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of transparency achievable through Guide Star. For more information, visit http://www.FeedingIE.org
About Walmart
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better — anytime and anywhere — in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 255 million customers and members visit more than 10,500 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2024 revenue of $648 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart, on X (formerly known as Twitter) at twitter.com/walmart, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart.
About Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club, the $86 billion division of Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is a membership club that is pioneering the retail experience, providing exclusive access to value, convenience and modern omnichannel shopping options to millions of members in 600 clubs across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. With over 40 years of innovating in the category, Sam’s Club continues to redefine club membership shopping with its curated assortment of quality fresh food and Member’s Mark® items, in addition to market leading technologies and services like Scan & Go™?, curbside pickup and home delivery. Visit the?Sam's Club Newsroom, shop at?SamsClub.com or connect with Sam's Club on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest.
About Feeding America®
Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment.
We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.