Walmart Foundation grants $100,000 to SC Center for Grassroots
March 1, 2012
GREENVILLE, SC – February 1, 2012 – The Walmart Foundation is pleased to announced it has awarded $100,000 to the South Carolina Center for Grassroots to help fund a program to provide food to some of the state’s neediest families.
This grant and the new program allows the South Carolina Center for Grassroots find between 14,000 and 16,000 state residents and make them aware they are now eligible for Food Stamp Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program.
Walmart is honored to assist such a compassionate endeavor to help those in need, said Rachel Nash, market manager for Wal-mart. This goes in line with our ideals of giving back to the community.
The South Carolina Center for Grassroots has been advocating on behalf of low-to-moderate income families for the past five years. During that time, it has made tremendous strides in partnering with community groups, other non-profits, faith-based groups, the business community and other local entities.
Due to a downturn in the economy, they have seen an increase in the amount of families that have experienced food insecurities over the past two years. The South Carolina Department of Social Services has seen an increase in the number and type of person(s) that are utilizing their services. There has been an increase in the working poor that are receiving services, but also there has been an increase in college educated professionals that are in need of food assistance from the department.
The South Carolina Center for Grassroots believes it can increase our participation rates in South Carolina by collaborating with our State Department of Social Service and by utilizing our extensive grassroots network to emphasize the importance of food security and training grassroots advocates in partnership with the DSS to utilize local community centers, faith-based facilities, local business and other community locations to register more eligible participants.
While this task is huge we believe that our aggressive outreach strategy, a strong state partnership along with the collaborative support of local stakeholders and grassroots communities we can ensure that some of our most vulnerable citizens have greater access to high quality foods, said Stephen Gilchrist, the groups’ chairman.
About Philanthropy at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on creating opportunities in education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From Feb. 1, 2009 through Jan. 31, 2010, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation gave more than $512 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally, $467 million of which was donated in the U.S. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.
