Walmart Associates Across Idaho Vote to Feed Hungry
For the last two summers, employees from statewide Walmart and Sam’s Club Stores have participated in the Walmart Associate Choice Program, a unique opportunity to award an Idaho non-profit organization a $100,000 grant. This year’s incredibly fortunate winner is The Hunger Coalition.
Honored with their inclusion in the group of finalists, The Hunger Coalition was one of five non-profits considered for the award, including Idaho Special Olympics, Idaho Meth Project, Children’s Home Society, and Idaho Public Television.
Associates cast their votes during the summer for the non-profit organization they believed deserved the sizable award. The Hunger Coalition received the ultimate award while the other organizations each received a $10,000 grant in recognition of their hard work and dedication to their cause.
This award represents a remarkable opportunity for The Hunger Coalition. “This generous gift will allow us to begin building an endowment for the future financial stability and longevity of the organization,” states Executive Director Jeanne Liston. “With these funds, we can ensure the provision of food for the hungry in perpetuity. We are immensely grateful to all the Walmart Associates for enabling this long-term hunger relief commitment to our community.”
In response to the Walmart gift, the Coalition has already received additional commitments totaling $35,000 from community members who believe in their efforts and want to leave a legacy of hope for future generations.
While Walmart funds will help with future goals, the Coalition is still relying on the generosity of the community to help them meet their most immediate needs. “Our number one goal is to make sure the food safety net we put in place does not falter,” states Liston. “Walmart funds will help ensure we can do this long into the future, but we need our community to know there is an urgent need right now for food for the winter. Our shelves are bare.”
Having experienced exponential growth the last three years, The Hunger Coalition has evolved into the primary provider of food assistance to the general population in Blaine County. Since January 2008, 10% of Blaine County’s total population has requested food from The Hunger Coalition. Through their Empowerment programs and Education Workshops, they are filling voids not addressed elsewhere in the community while giving their clients the hand up necessary to transition out of food insecurity.
During 2010, over 500 local families required food assistance and support services from The Hunger Coalition. More than one third of these were children under the age of 18 – the future of our community. High attendance levels at the Summer Food Program and enrollment in the Backpack Club reinforce the level of need is neither diminishing nor are local families seeing much relief from the continuing economic situation.
Recent statistics show that new clients to The Hunger Coalition’s services include a significant number of previously job-secure homeowners who are no longer able to make ends meet. With savings depleted, no asset value left in their homes, and diminished employment or income, they have few, if any alternatives.
With the creation of an endowment fund, The Hunger Coalition will begin the long process of establishing security for an organization that will always be in need, at some level or another, well into the future. With sincere thanks to the Walmart Associate Choice Program, The Hunger Coalition will be here and prepared to meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of our community for generations to come.
The Hunger Coalition wishes to congratulate Walmart on their sincere dedication to hunger relief. To help end hunger in America, the mega-retailer has committed more than $2 billion in cash and in-kind donations. The state of Idaho alone can expect more than 7.5 million pounds in food donations by 2015.
Founded in 2003, the Blaine County Hunger Coalition strives to end hunger in our community by providing wholesome food to those in need and by promoting solutions to the underlying causes of hunger through collaboration, education and advocacy.
Here is my contact information: Patti
We are now taking deposits on our up-coming litter's of Silver and Charcoal Labrador puppies! These...
