Walmart, Sam’s Club provide $150,000 for tornado relief
In response to the record floods and tornadoes that have continued to impact Midwestern and Southern states this spring, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Walmart.org have committed to providing an additional $150,000 in support through cash and product donations.
This initiative builds on earlier commitments made by the company in March and early May, which brings the total support commitment to $500,000.
The relief commitments are providing support to states across the Midwest and South, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas. The latest commitment will provide an additional $150,000 in product donations and cash grants to organizations actively engaged in responding to impacted communities.
As part of this commitment, Walmart also is working closely with local officials and government entities to help meet the needs of those affected.
"The ongoing impact of tornadoes and historic floods continues to affect our associates, our customers and communities across the Midwest and South," Julie Gehrki, vice president of philanthropy at Walmart, said. "Our local stores and distribution centers, as well as the nonprofits, first responders, local officials and government organizations continue to work hard to meet the needs of the affected communities we serve, and we are so grateful for their combined efforts."
Walmart has a long history of providing aid in times of disasters, helping communities prepare and recover by donating such emergency supplies as food and water, and home and personal products. In the past two years, for example, the retailer and the Walmart Foundation have given nearly $50 million in cash, water, food and other products to support victims of hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.
Additionally, during the same time period, the company raised $44 million in donations from customers to support hurricane relief, the company said.
“While Walmart has always helped communities in times of disaster, the experience of Hurricane Katrina helped us realize how we best draw on our strengths to provide relief in the aftermath of disaster,” Gehrki said. “Since Katrina, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have formalized our disaster response program to quickly help those who have been hit hardest. Walmart.org represents the combined philanthropic efforts of both Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, and supports efforts to help communities build resiliency and respond more quickly and effectively when disaster strikes.”
This initiative builds on earlier commitments made by the company in March and early May, which brings the total support commitment to $500,000.
The relief commitments are providing support to states across the Midwest and South, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas. The latest commitment will provide an additional $150,000 in product donations and cash grants to organizations actively engaged in responding to impacted communities.
As part of this commitment, Walmart also is working closely with local officials and government entities to help meet the needs of those affected.
"The ongoing impact of tornadoes and historic floods continues to affect our associates, our customers and communities across the Midwest and South," Julie Gehrki, vice president of philanthropy at Walmart, said. "Our local stores and distribution centers, as well as the nonprofits, first responders, local officials and government organizations continue to work hard to meet the needs of the affected communities we serve, and we are so grateful for their combined efforts."
Walmart has a long history of providing aid in times of disasters, helping communities prepare and recover by donating such emergency supplies as food and water, and home and personal products. In the past two years, for example, the retailer and the Walmart Foundation have given nearly $50 million in cash, water, food and other products to support victims of hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.
Additionally, during the same time period, the company raised $44 million in donations from customers to support hurricane relief, the company said.
“While Walmart has always helped communities in times of disaster, the experience of Hurricane Katrina helped us realize how we best draw on our strengths to provide relief in the aftermath of disaster,” Gehrki said. “Since Katrina, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have formalized our disaster response program to quickly help those who have been hit hardest. Walmart.org represents the combined philanthropic efforts of both Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, and supports efforts to help communities build resiliency and respond more quickly and effectively when disaster strikes.”