Walmart campaign to feed the hungry will benefit two local organizations

Two local organizations have partnered with Walmart, Sam's Club and Feeding America to launch the "Fight Hunger, Spark Change" campaign.

According to the release, one in eight people struggles with hunger in the U.S. including 86,000 people in the Mahoning Valley.

"Fight Hunger, Spark Change" will benefit both the Second Harvest Food Bank and the Community Warehouse of Mercer County.

The campaign will run from April 22 until May 20.

Walmart and Sam's Club stores in the Valley are inviting shoppers to fight hunger in their communities,

There are three different ways to participate in "Fight Hunger, Spark Change."

Participants can purchase participating items in-store or online, donate items in-store or donate on Feeding America's website.

For every participating product purchased at Walmart, Sam's Club or Walmart online, the supplier will donate the monetary equivalent of at least one meal.

Walmart started the campaign with a $3 million donation to Feeding America.

Each Walmart and Sam's Club will partner with at least one Feeding America local food bank, and the 18 participating suppliers include: Bush Brothers, Campbell's, Conagra Brands, Cliff Bar, General Mills, Gold Peak Tea, Great Value, Hidden Valley, JM Smucker, Kellogg, Kraft Heinz, McCormick, Motts, PepsiCo, Post, Uncle Ben's, Nature Nate's Honey and Unilever.

"We greatly appreciate the continued support of Walmart and Sam's Club to Feeding America Food Banks, especially in the Mahoning Valley, where 1 in 6 of our neighbors and 1 in 4 children do not know where their next meal is coming from," said Michael Iberis, executive director, Second Harvest Food Bank.

"As we go into our sixth year of the 'Fight Hunger. Spark Change.' campaign, it's exciting to approach the 1 billion mark in terms of charitable meals secured for Feeding America over the life of the program," said Kathleen McLaughlin, chief sustainability officer for Walmart. "Food insecurity continues to affect communities across the United States. Working with Feeding America, our customers, members, associates and suppliers, Walmart and Sam's Club aim to be part of the solution."

Second Harvest Food Bank received more than $35,000 from the campaign in 2018.