Walmart and Sam’s Club “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” Campaign Supports Feeding America Network to Help Provide Food to Communities in Need

Washington, D.C. - April 16, 2020 - (Ponder America's Homeless) -- One in nine people face hunger in America, including more than 11 million children. Feeding America®, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, estimates that an additional 17.1 million people could face hunger in the next six months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. School closures, rising unemployment and rising poverty due to quarantine and stay-at-home orders have impacted everyone, especially people already at risk of hunger.

With Feeding America estimating $1.4 billion in additional resources needed over the next six months to provide enough food for our neighbors facing hunger, food banks need community support now more than ever. The “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign provides everyone with an opportunity to help.

In its seventh year, the “Fight Hunger. Spark Change” campaign will run online and in-store through May 11, 2020. There are two ways to participate – donating on Feeding America’s website or purchasing a participating item in-store or online.

Donate at www.FeedingAmerica.org/Walmart.

For every participating product purchased at U.S. Walmart stores, Sam’s Clubs or on Walmart.com and SamsClub.com during the campaign, the supplier will donate the monetary equivalent of at least one meal ($0.10) on behalf of a Feeding America member food bank, up to applicable limits. See specially marked packages for full details.

“Every day, the Feeding America nationwide network of 200 food banks is on the ground helping children, families, and seniors who face hunger. During this pandemic, food banks will continue to distribute food to our neighbors in need,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “Walmart and Sam’s Club have been unwavering partners in the fight to end hunger. We are deeply thankful for their ongoing support during this unprecedented time.”

Walmart kickstarted the campaign with a $3 million donation to Feeding America and member food banks. Each Walmart and Sam’s Club will partner with at least one local Feeding America food bank, and the 22 participating suppliers include: Bush Brothers & Company, Campbell Soup Company, Clif Bar & Company, Conagra Brands, Crazy Richard’s, Ferrara Candy Company, General Mills, Great Value, J.M. Smucker, Kellogg’s, Kraft Heinz, Materne North America, Monster Energy, Mott’s, Nestle Waters, Ocean’s Halo, PepsiCo, Post Consumer Brands, Soylent, The Coca-Cola Company, The Clorox Company and Unilever. The Walmart Foundation recently gave an additional $5 million to Feeding America to help support communities and individuals facing hunger during the COVID-19 outbreak.

“‘Fight Hunger. Spark Change.’ has been a way for Walmart and Sam’s Club to partner with our suppliers and customers to help bring food to the people who need it most,” said Julie Gehrki, vice president of philanthropy for Walmart.org. “It’s been an important effort every year, but this one is especially critical given the current demand on food banks. With millions of Americans worrying about how they will feed their families right now, ‘Fight Hunger. Spark Change.’ is a powerful way for all of us to help.”

To learn more about the campaign visit www.Walmart.com/FightHunger and www.SamsClub.com/FightHunger.

Sheetz For the Kidz Donates $601,000 to Help Feed Children Struggling with Hunger

by: Sheetz for Kids

Washington, D.C. - May 1, 2019 - (Ponder the Homeless) -- Sheetz For the Kidz,TM an employee-driven charity helping children in need, is proud to announce a donation of $601,000 to local Feeding America® member food banks to provide hunger relief to children struggling with hunger throughout the states in which Sheetz operates: Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland.

In America, one in six children may not know where they will get their next meal. Millions of children throughout the country receive free or reduced-price lunches and breakfasts during the school year. During the summer months, most children lose access to these meals. Funds from Sheetz For the Kidz will be distributed to Feeding America member food banks within the Sheetz footprint, where they can make a difference for some of these children. The $601,000 donation will help provide 6 million meals* for children and is part of a new annual commitment to Feeding America.

"Sheetz and Sheetz For the Kidz have always been passionate about helping youth that live in the communities we serve," said Sheetz For the Kidz Executive Director Sarah Piper. "For more than 27 years, our employees have helped underprivileged children have a brighter holiday season through Sheetz For the Kidz. This new program takes the community support of our stores to the next level as we are very excited to start our partnership with Feeding America. Thanks to the fundraising efforts led by our employees and the generous support of our customers and business partners, we have the ability to broaden our connection with the communities we serve."

As a regional convenience store, Sheetz is committed to helping to fight childhood hunger in the communities it resides in. Through its program "Made-to-Share," Sheetz is rescuing food from their 588 stores and donating it to Feeding America member food banks located in their six-state footprint.

"The number of children who struggle with hunger concerns our company greatly and we cannot sit back while children in our communities have difficulty obtaining their next meal," said Sheetz President/COO Travis Sheetz. "Without adequate food and nutrition, children are unable to reach their full potential. We are deeply committed to helping children facing hunger and are proud that this donation from our corporate charity will go directly toward helping them fight, and win, this battle."

"Proper nutrition is critical to a child's health, growth and development. Yet, one in six children face hunger in America," said Nancy Curby, senior vice president, corporate partnerships at Feeding America. "Feeding America is thankful to Sheetz for the Kidz for its generous support and commitment to helping children who need it most during the summer months."

Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief organization. To learn more about Feeding America visit www.feedingamerica.org.

*$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks.

About Sheetz, Inc.
Established in 1952 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Sheetz, Inc. is one of America's fastest-growing family-owned and operated convenience store chains with more than 19,000 employees. The company operates over 585 store locations throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina. Sheetz provides an award-winning menu of M•T•O® sandwiches and salads, which are ordered through unique touch-screen order point terminals. All Sheetz convenience stores are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, Sheetz is committed to offering employees sustainable careers built on an inspiring culture and community engagement. For more information, visit www.sheetz.com or follow us on Twitter (@sheetz), Facebook (www.facebook.com/sheetz) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/sheetz).

About Sheetz For the Kidz
Sheetz For the Kidz is a non-profit organization, designated as a 501(c) (3) charity, independent of the Sheetz Corporation. The organization was created in 1992 by local store employees wanting to help local children. The mission of the charity is to provide support, hope, joy and happiness to children in need within the communities in which Sheetz operates. To date, the charity has impacted more than 119,500 children living in the communities Sheetz serves!

About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 46 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Hunger Task Force: Milwaukee, WI

From: The Hunger Task Force

Founded in 1974 by a group of parent advocates who were fighting for a school breakfast program in Milwaukee Public Schools. In the early 1980s, this group formed Milwaukee’s first food bank: Hunger Task Force.

Today, Hunger Task Force provides a safety net of emergency food to a network of local food pantries and meal programs. We are the only food bank in Milwaukee that does not charge for food, delivery or network membership. Staying true to our roots, we continue to advocate for social policies and strong nutrition programs that fight future hunger.

Check out our website to learn more!

NH Food Bank Kicks-Off 7th Annual Nothing Campaign April 12, generously supported by Citizens Bank

by: New Hampshire Food Bank

Washington, D.C. - April 14, 2019 - (Ponder America's Homeless) -- 1 in 9 NH residents, including approximately 11% of children, do not know where their next meal will come from. For many, it is a choice between medical care, paying their rent, utilities, heat or buying food. Unfortunately, the numbers continue to rise. In 2018 alone, the NH Food Bank distributed more than 14.1 million pounds of food to over 425 partner agencies throughout the state.

We live in one of the richest countries in the world, and have more than enough food to feed everyone. It’s just a matter of enough of us making the decision to help. While some think that nothing can be done to solve the issue of hunger, the NH Food Bank believes that we can all do something to ensure everyone in the state has enough food to eat.

Nothing is a stark reality for hundreds of thousands of New Hampshire residents every day, but today, Nothing is also a way to help end hunger in NH. The New Hampshire Food Bank, in partnership with Citizens Bank®, has come together with NH grocery partners in the fight against hunger and want to get individuals, businesses and organizations involved in the effort as well.

Do Something About Nothing

In partnership with Citizens Bank and with the support of NH Food Bank’s grocery partners, Granite Staters can help make a difference, starting April 6 and through May 31 purchase Nothing cans for $5 at participating Hannaford®, Harvest Market®, Market Basket®, Shaw’s®, Sully’s Superette® in Allenstown and Goffstown and Vista Foods® in Laconia. Each Nothing can purchased will provide approximately 10 meals, and cans filled with generous donations can help provide approximately 60 meals to your neighbor that faces hunger every day.

Get Involved

What: NH 7th Annual Nothing Campaign

When: April 12th through May 31
Where:New Hampshire Food Bank
Participating Stores Locations

Governor and First Lady Bullock’s Youth Leadership Council Fight Childhood Hunger through Statewide Week of Events

The Ponder would like to thank the following business for sending quality traffic our way!

======Need quality Website Traffic? Sign up!======

by: Montana Governor’s Office

Helena, MT - April 12, 2019 - (Ponder the Homeless) -- Governor Steve Bullock and First Lady Lisa Bullock have kicked off the 5th annual statewide Fight Childhood Hunger Week in Montana. From April 8-14, over 40 projects and events will take place in 16 communities across the state. Projects are organized and led by 19 middle and high school students who serve on the Governor and First Lady Youth Leadership Council.

“Nothing inspires me more than seeing students take the lead in fighting childhood hunger in their communities,” First Lady Bullock said today kicking off Fight Childhood Hunger Week. “Young people like Elaina and other members of the Youth Leadership Council are committing their time and energy to making a difference because they know firsthand when they have access to food, they can better focus on their most important job – learning.”

First Lady Bullock and Governor Bullock joined Youth Leadership Council member Elaina Patten at a luncheon at Montana’s State Capitol to kick off Fight Childhood Hunger Week. Attendees heard personal experiences with food insecurity in Montana, as well as information about childhood hunger in Montana and how to address it.

“Childhood hunger is a problem we can solve and it’s the work of these youth leaders that will help us in doing that,” said Governor Bullock. “Lisa and I are grateful for their efforts in shaping a world where every kid has the fuel they need to succeed.”

Projects are designed to increase awareness of the issue of childhood hunger, or to tackle childhood hunger in the state by starting new weekend backpack programs, school breakfast programs, or school food pantries, advocating to public and elected leaders about the importance of this issue, and coordinating volunteers to directly serve the community.

Fight Childhood Hunger Week projects include:

Billings: 24 Hour Walk-a-thon at Rimrock Mall

Bozeman: “Spring for Food” All Schools Food Drive

Charlo: Poverty Simulations for 6th-12th grade classes, Community Dinner and Community Movie Night

Glendive: 5K Color Run

Hardin: “Hunger, Let’s Talk About It” Awareness Event

Helena: Hunger Luncheon at the Capitol Rotunda and Hunger Dinner at Capitol High School

Trout Creek: Fun Run and Quilt Raffle

For a complete list of Fight Childhood Hunger Week projects, visit FightChildhoodHunger.com.

In addition to the projects hosted by the Governor and First Lady Youth Leadership Council, Montana No Kid Hungry is encouraging Montanans to participate in Wear Orange Wednesday on April 10th and share photos on social media using the #WearOrangeWednesday and tagging @mtnokidhungry.

2018-2019 Governor and First Lady Youth Leadership Council members:

Brielle Aklestad, Grade 11, Shelby High School, Galata

Deidra Beads Don’t Mix, Grade 12, Hardin High School, Crow Agency

Elaina Patten, Grade 10, Capital High School, Helena

Elaina Keast, Grade 8, St. Ignatius Middle School, St. Ignatius

Erika Hernandez, Grade 12, Hardin High School, Hardin

Gabrielle Higbee, Grade 8, Washington Middle School, Glendive

Hank Rugg, Grade 11, Frenchtown High School, Missoula

Hattie Neesvig, Grade 7, Thompson Falls Junior High, Trout Creek

Jon Hertz, Grade 11, Billings West High School, Billings

Kaitlyn Miller, Grade 8, Nashua K-12 Public School, Nashua

Katie Kaiser, Grade 12, Glasgow High School, Glasgow

Kaylee Yeager, Grade 11, Custer County District High School, Miles City

Kelsyn Lohr, Grade 11, Shelby High School, Shelby

Leif Clark, Grade 12, Butte High School, Butte

Nina Friedman, Grade 11, Glacier High School, Whitefish

Riley Gilsdorf, Grade 10, Billings Senior High School, Billings

Ruby West, Grade 8, Sacajawea Middle School, Bozeman

Sidney DeLong, Grade 9, Hamilton High School, Hamilton

Taylor Olsen, Grade 12, Charlo Schools, Charlo

Full biographies and more information on the Governor and First Lady Youth Leadership Council can be found at FightChildhoodHunger.com.

The First Interstate Bank Foundation is the presenting sponsor of the Governor and First Lady Youth Leadership Council.

The Governor’s Office of Community Service expands and promotes National Service and volunteerism in Montana and engages citizens in service and emergency preparedness.