Last month I encountered a sign I’d never seen before when I dropped off canned goods and staples to a local charity: a sign on the door that told visitors the charity was out of food. The volunteers told me requests for assistance have not only grown, but they’re steady throughout each day.
That’s why this story deserves our attention. Wal-Mart — frequently and unfairly targeted as Big Bad Corporate America — is stepping up its already robust charity work in support of food banks, including those in North Carolina. The company will donate $2 billion in grants and food over the next five years.
But the bulk of the donations will be more than 1.1 billion pounds of food that doesn’t sell or can’t be sold, because it’s close to its expiration date, for example. About half will be fruit, vegetables, dairy and meat – items that food banks say are more in demand.
The company estimates that the food will provide 1 billion meals. Store employees will offer assistance to food banks to help run their operations more efficiently.
Kroger has stepped up as well, donating 50 million pounds of food last year.
While some politicians are content to pound business and industry as “fat cats” who don’t care about the rest of us, many businesses, large and small, are voluntarily helping those in need.
Thank you, Wal-Mart, Kroger, and the countless others who walk the walk.
