Walmart Gives Back

Nothing says charitable giving like refrigerator trucks. If I've said it once, I've said it a million times. And finally Walmart is catching on. The retail giant is launching its new holiday-giving campaign by sending a convoy of 35 refrigerated trucks loaded up with $3 million in food to Feeding America food banks in Miami, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Boston, Memphis and 30 other places, according to a Walmart press release.

The food will arrive in time to feed scores of hungry people this Thanksgiving. But the best part is that the trucks are part of the gift; Feeding America estimates that the fleet will allows its food banks to transport some 41 million more meals every year than they currently are able.

The stunt is just a small start to a much bigger holiday-focused charity campaign; Walmart sure is in the holiday spirit. The trucks are the advance guard of the company's "Walmart Gives Back" initiative. Walmart and Walmart Foundation will be donating $32 million to hunger relief and family support charities across the country, including Feeding America, Meals on Wheels and the Salvation Army.

Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation, noted that this sour economy is making things harder than ever for those who depend on food banks. "Our partnership with Feeding America is helping us do our part to put more food on the dinner table," she said. "Our business and our charitable giving are united in the commitment to eradicate hunger in America."

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