Walmart helps our community and they've generously donated $41,000 to the Schaumburg Food Pantry
The Walmart Foundation has awarded a $41,000 grant to the
Schaumburg Township Human Services Fund to support the operation of the township’s food pantry in the 2011 – 2012 fiscal year. The grant will enable the General Assistance Department, which operates the pantry; to acquire food from the Greater Chicago Food Depository; and facilitate pickups of surplus products from the many retail stores that donate items to the pantry.
The community’s need for the pantry and for all our services has grown tremendously in these difficult economic times. We are extremely grateful to the Walmart Foundation and to all the employees and customers of Walmart for making this grant possible” said Township Welfare Services Director Sandy Wolf.
Use of the pantry has increased rapidly in the past year. The economic downturn has forced more township residents to supplement decreased income with periodic “shopping” for food and household products at the township pantry. In the coming fiscal year, the pantry expects to serve 4,800 families consisting of 15,000 individuals in need of monthly help with food and related products—an increase of about 19% over the past year. The township also expects to increase disbursements of holiday food gift cards in the 2011/2012 fiscal year.
In fulfillment of these objectives, the program has hired an additional caseworker; has purchased a new truck to pick up donations and purchases; will pick up food weekly from the Greater Chicago Food Depository; and hopes to expand the number of stores and restaurants from which food and product donations are obtained. The pantry also expects to recruit additional volunteers to sort and shelve food, as needed.
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have made combating hunger a priority for their community giving programs at the national, state and local levels. In Illinois alone, they have committed at least $1 million to food programs, including this grant to Schaumburg Township.
Donations by State
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