Sam's Club Asks Members to Help Feeding America Secure Up to One Million Meals for Local Food Banks

Nationwide commitment supports food banks during critical springtime shortages

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Mar 12, 2012, 09:53 ET

BENTONVILLE, Ark., March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sam's Club, the nation's 8th largest retailer and warehouse club, has joined forces with two Nashville recording stars, General Mills, key food suppliers and the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief charity, Feeding America, in a nationwide program to help Feeding America secure up to one million meals for local food banks to fulfill critical springtime shortages.

From March 14 to 28, country stars, including Martina McBride and Edens Edge, join Sam's Club to engage members with the goal of helping Feeding America secure meals for local food banks across the U.S.

Hunger is an issue year-round and can be especially critical in the spring as post-holiday volunteer efforts and supplies typically diminish. While many believe that those affected by hunger are confined to small pockets of society, in reality, one in six Americans is struggling with hunger.

Sam's Club Members have two ways to participate in the Spring Hunger Event from March 14-28 including:

By purchasing specially marked General Mills items at Sam's Club, members can help Feeding America secure TEN MEALS for local food banks once members visit www.outnumberhunger.com/samsclub and enter the code located on the packaging by March 1, 2013. For every code entered by March 1, 2013, General Mills will donate $1.30 to Feeding America – enough to secure 10 meals on behalf of local food banks up to a maximum donation of $130,000.
Members can also place non-perishable food in collection bins at Sam's Clubs nationwide.

In support of hunger-relief, the country artists will join Sam's Club associates at several local food banks, with appearances by Edens Edge in St. Louis on March 15 and Martina McBride in Phoenix on March 24. Members will also have the chance to meet these artists at local Sam's Club locations as Edens Edge and Martina McBride personally ask Members to participate in the Spring Hunger Event with in-club appearances.

"Knowing our Sam's Club community is so active in helping to raise awareness to the critical issue of hunger in our country is extremely gratifying," said Heather Mayo, Vice President, Grocery, at Sam's Club. "Since October 2006, when Sam's Club locations piloted the first Walmart Stores, Inc. food donation campaign, we have been passionate advocates to outnumber hunger. Through our ongoing partnership with Feeding America, Sam's Club donated more than 39 million pounds of food to U.S. food banks in 2011 alone. We thank our members and suppliers for their continued support in our fight against hunger."

"It's humbling to see Sam's Club and these musicians join hands to help Feeding America secure food for our network of food banks," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. "But the hunger issue is larger than just filling food bank shelves, we also want to raise awareness about the nearly 49 million people who struggle to get enough to eat."

"I was shocked to hear that one in six Americans is struggling with hunger. Some of my favorite moments as a mother of three are the times my family and I share over meals and it is heartbreaking to know there are millions of families out there who simply don't have food to eat," said Country music superstar Martina McBride. "I look forward to raising awareness about the issue of hunger with Feeding America, General Mills and Sam's Club."

About Sam's Club

Sam's Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is the nation's eighth largest retailer and a leading membership warehouse club offering superior products and services to more than 47 million Members in clubs across the U.S., as well as in Brazil, China and Mexico. Members save an average of 34 percent over traditional retailers. To learn more about Savings Made Simple®, visit SamsClub.com and look for Sam's Club on Twitter, Facebook and our mobile app.

About Sam's Club Giving

Sam's Club supports community-based programs that empower young people, families and small businesses to make smart choices that lead to healthy and bright futures. Through cash and in-kind donations, as well as the dedication of Associates, Sam's Club is committed to making an impact in areas that align with the company, and with the passions and interests of Members. In 2010, the Sam's Club Giving Program made cash and in-kind contributions of more than $89 million.

About Feeding America

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

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SOURCE Sam's Club