Walmart Foundation Contributes 53-foot Semitrailer Truck to Community Harvest Food Bank

Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana can now move four times the amount of fresh produce and other food to families in need, thanks to a $75,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation. The grant allowed Community Harvest Food Bank to buy a 53-foot refrigerated semitrailer and tractor.

"We are so grateful to the Walmart Foundation because this one truck will help us collect and deliver food far more efficiently," Executive Director Jane Avery said. "Our old box truck could handle only 12 pallets of food, but the new refrigerated truck has the capacity to move 53 pallets."

In the past, Avery said, the food bank would get an offer for fresh produce such as lettuce, carrots, peaches or tomatoes. Because they didn't have a way to safely transport perishables, the offer would have to be turned down. "Sometimes we could hire an outside vendor, but that gets expensive, too." She pointed out it cost the food bank more than $500 to accept a delivery of donated milk from Indianapolis earlier this year.

"Walmart understands how improving logistics means helping more people. We bring millions of products to store shelves every year with one of the most efficient logistics systems in the world," said John Wolf, Walmart market manager and former Community Harvest Food Bank president. "We are honored to see the Walmart Foundation present this grant to the Community Harvest Food Bank and know it will help families who really need assistance."

In 2010, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation launched "Fighting Hunger Together" – a $2 billion cash and in-kind commitment through 2015 to fight hunger in America. This initiative leverages Walmart's size and resources to provide nutritious food and the Walmart Foundation's ability to grant funding to nonprofits that help elevate the issue. In 2012, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation became the first partners of Feeding America to surpass 1 billion meals donated.

A 2010 study conducted by Feeding America shows how people in Indiana have to make difficult eating decisions:

• 46 percent of clients in Indiana report having to choose between paying for food and paying for utilities or heating fuel.
• 42 percent had to choose between paying for food and paying their rent or mortgage.
• 36 percent had to choose between paying for food and paying for medicine or medical care.
• 37 percent had to choose between paying for food and paying for transportation,
• 39 percent had to choose between paying for food and paying for gas for a car.

The Walmart Foundation supports organizations creating opportunities so people can live better. The Walmart Foundation State Giving Program works to award grants that have a long-lasting, positive affect on communities across the U.S. Indiana grant decisions are made by Hoosier associates.