ALEXANDRIA, VA (February 26, 2010) - The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is awarding grants to 147 local programs across the U.S as part of a previously announced $2.2 million donation from the Walmart Foundation. The Walmart Foundation Impact Grant Program will provide struggling Meals On Wheels programs with essential items such as stoves, refrigerators, freezers, delivery vehicles, and other equipment so they can continue providing meals to homebound seniors and other seniors in need. This financial help could not come at a better time as the cost of providing meals to seniors continues to increase along with the price of gasoline. Some of the Meals On Wheels programs receiving grants are currently using delivery vans with hundreds of thousands of miles on them and ovens that are being held together with duct tape. “Seniors have been hit especially hard in this economy and we feel a responsibility to help,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. “We’re proud to support Meals On Wheels programs across the U.S. who work on the front lines of ending senior hunger.” “The Walmart Foundation has once again stepped up to the plate as a powerful partner in the fight to end senior hunger,” said Enid Borden, president and CEO of MOWAA. “They are our largest corporate partner to date and their support will make a tremendous impact in helping our programs sustain meal services well into the future.
We can’t thank the Walmart Foundation enough for joining us in our national movement to end senior hunger in America by 2020.” In 2008, the Walmart Foundation donated $750,000 to MOWAA and its Member programs to restore meals that programs were forced to cut. These recent funds will benefit 147 programs including many in the “Top 10 Senior Hunger States,” where a recent study <http://www.mowaa.org/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.mowaa.org%2fPage.aspx%3fpid%3d471&srcid=4645&srctid=1&erid=209418> , sponsored by MOWAA, found the risk of senior hunger is greatest. Local Meals On Wheels programs receiving the grants of up to $15,000 were selected through a competitive grant process. View the state-by-state list of Walmart Foundation Impact Grant winners here <http://www.mowaa.org/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.mowaa.org%2fimpact-grant-winners&srcid=4645&srctid=1&erid=209418>
About Meals On Wheels Association of America:
The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is the oldest and largest national organization in the United States representing those programs that provide meals to people in need. MOWAA’s vision is to end senior hunger by 2020. To obtain more information about MOWAA or to locate a local Meals On Wheels program, visit the MOWAA website at http://www.mowaa.org//page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.mowaa.org&srcid=4645&srctid=1&erid=209418 <http://www.mowaa.org/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.mowaa.org&srcid=4645&srctid=1&erid=209418> .
About Philanthropy at Walmart:
Walmart 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 February 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009, Walmart – and its domestic and international foundations – gave more than $423 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally.