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Community Corner

Walmart awards $65,000 to help alleviate hunger in western Pa.

The Walmart Foundation today announced $65,000 to help alleviate hunger in western Pennsylvania. The grant will support Lutheran Service Society of Western Pennsylvania’s Meals On Wheels program, which delivers meals to people living in the West Hills communities of Robinson, Crafton, Moon, Coraopolis, and most of Beaver County.

“Fighting hunger is one of our top priorities,” said Jason Klipa, Walmart’s Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations in Pennsylvania. “We’re committed to helping the communities where we operate. Walmart has more than a dozen stores and thousands of associates in western Pennsylvania. With this grant, the Walmart Foundation is proud to partner with Lutheran Service Society in the fight against hunger and to support programs that put bring food to those in need.”

Lutheran Service Society will use part of the $65,000 grant to purchase a new van for use in meal delivery as well as to expand its community outreach and fund-raising efforts.

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“Thanks to the generosity of the Walmart Foundation, we will be able to purchase a van that will go beyond serving the practical function of carrying food from restaurants and food pantries,” said John Dickey, President & CEO of Lutheran Service Society. “We hope people will see the van all over the region and be reminded of the difference we are making in their neighborhood through Meals On Wheels --- possibly spurring them to donate, volunteer, or refer someone in need to our program.”

Meals On Wheels has been a part of Lutheran Service Society’s programming since 1968, when the organization opened the first MOW kitchen in western Pennsylvania. At that time, there were 17 clients receiving meals. Today the agency serves an average of 950 clients each day and is the largest single MOW provider in Pennsylvania.

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Lutheran Service Society’s grant was made possible through the Walmart Foundation’s Pennsylvania State Giving Program. The program awards grants to eligible organizations that strive to have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the United States. Through this program, combined with other Foundation programs and corporate grants, last year in Pennsylvania, Walmart, Sam’s Club and the Walmart Foundation awarded more than $19.7 million to local organizations. Total giving in Pennsylvania, including customer donations, topped $23.9 million in 2012.

To be considered for support, prospective grantee organizations must submit applications through the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program’s online grant application.  Applicants must have a current 501(c)3 tax-exempt status in order to meet the program’s minimum eligibility criteria.  Additional information about the program’s funding guidelines and application process are available online at www.walmartfoundation.org/stategiving.

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 has donated more than 1 billion meals to those in need across the country. To learn more about Walmart's giving, visit http://foundation.walmart.com.

About Lutheran Service Society

Celebrating over 100 years of service, Lutheran Service Society is a nonprofit provider of human services that seeks to empower people of any and all faiths to lead independent, dignified, and secure lives. To accomplish this, Lutheran Service Society maintains services for the aging population; adoption and permanency services; Meals On Wheels services; and job training and educational opportunities in western Pennsylvania. Through the agency’s Meals On Wheels program, Lutheran Service Society delivered more than 200,000 nutritious meals last year to local individuals who are unable to grocery shop or cook for themselves. For more information, visit http://www.LSSWPA.org.
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