SHARE Food Program Receives $50,000 Grant from Walmart Foundation to Fight Hunger in Philadelphia

Funding will help Philadelphia area food cupboards to provide emergency food relief to an additional 52,000 low-income families

Philadelphia, PA (October 14, 2014) ---- SHARE Food Program today received a $50,000 grant to bring more emergency food relief in 500 Philadelphia County Food Pantries. Walmart Foundation funding will help SHARE and its food cupboard partners to serve 52,000 more people who are facing food poverty. 

“We are deeply grateful to the Walmart Foundation for their generous support of neighbors in need” said SHARE Executive Director Steveanna Wynn. “In the past two years, SHARE’s food pantry partners have seen a 20% increase in families facing hunger. This show of support from Walmart will help bring nutritious food to more families who are struggling to put food on the table.”

SHARE is a high-impact nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing hunger, and broadening access to healthy, affordable food. Last year, SHARE distributed 19 million pounds of emergency food relief over 500 food pantries, reaching 500,000 people each month. SHARE has a holistic approach to reducing hunger, with other programs that expand access to nutritious, affordable food, and promote community volunteerism.

“Fighting hunger is Walmart’s single biggest philanthropic priority here in Philadelphia and across the Commonwealth. Our work with SHARE will allow food cupboards around the region to serve more families in need.  Increasing the capacity of these important community service agents is critical as the number of families facing hunger grows.  The effort builds on the work we are doing across Pennsylvania, including the donation of 12.96 million pounds of food to local food banks in 2013,” said Jason Klipa, Walmart Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations in Pennsylvania. 

In 2010, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation launched "Fighting Hunger Together" – a through 2015. This initiative leverages Walmart's size and resources to provide nutritious food and the Walmart Foundation's ability to grant funding to nonprofits that help elevate the issue. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation gave more than $26.6 million in cash and in-kind contributions to charitable organizations throughout Pennsylvania in 2013.

Food poverty affects nearly 1 million people in the Delaware Valley, and in Philadelphia the hunger rate is double the national and state rates.  SHARE’s food cupboards serve the city’s most vulnerable citizens: 40% are children, 12% elderly and 100% have incomes below the federal poverty guidelines.  More families -- including those with jobs -- find it harder to meet basic needs, and will reduce or skip meals. There are multiple costs to chronic hunger, with children and elderly particularly vulnerable.

“I’ve been working with SHARE Food Program since 1980” said Violet Wade,  a resident of Champlost Homes and volunteer Chair of their Food Cupboard. “For families in need, the end of the month is when food supplies are especially low or gone. SHARE works with food cupboards to make sure that people don’t go hungry.  They are a reliable, strong partner, and really care about helping people to get food.”

SHARE Executive Director Steveanna Wynn notes that, “Walmart’s Grant will help 500 local food cupboards to meet the expanded demand for hunger relief, and support the nutritional needs of their participants. We work closely with food cupboards to help participants stretch limited food resources and make the healthiest choices. We are deeply grateful to the Walmart Foundation for their partnership in this important work.”

For more information on SHARE visit www.SHAREfoodprogram.org.  For more information on Walmart in Philadelphia visit .

About Philanthropy at Walmart

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to helping people live better through philanthropic efforts. By operating globally and giving back locally, Walmart is uniquely positioned to address the needs of the communities it serves and make a significant social impact within its core areas of giving: Hunger Relief & Healthy Eating, Sustainability, Career Opportunity and Women’s Economic Empowerment. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are leading the fight against hunger in the United States with a $2 billion commitment through 2015. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have donated more than 1.3 billion meals to people in need across the country. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit .