News & Observer columnist Barry Saunders is pleasantly surprised to learn that Wal-Mart is a regular donor to charities, including right here in North Carolina.
After speaking with the dude who’s in charge of spreading moolah for Wal-Mart in North Carolina and with some of the recipients of the megacorporation’s charitable largess, perhaps those of us who viewed Wal-Mart as the enemy can shop there with heads held high and unmasked.
I don’t know about you, but I cringe whenever I see a sign heralding the arrival of another Wal-Mart. “Hello, Wal-Mart, goodbye, trees,” right?
So, imagine Kevin Brice’s surprise when his nonprofit organization, the Triangle Land Conservancy, received two unsolicited donations from Wal-Mart to — get this — conserve land.
The $30,000 that came in December ’08 and January ’09, Brice said, will help TLC buy and protect vulnerable land, water and wildlife habitats.
I’m glad Barry has seen the light — make that seen the facts. Here’s hoping he, and other Wal-Mart critics, soon realize that Wal-Mart’s low prices do more to consistently help families maximize their dollars than virtually any other retailer. Wal-Mart also is a major employer, not to mention an employer that routinely hires seniors and the developmentally impaired.
No, I don’t own stock. I just appreciate Wal-Mart’s role in our economy and wish others would, too.
