Shoppers Who Bought Cereal, Celsius, Coke, & More At RivCo Walmarts Helped Raise $175K+.

MURRIETA, CA — Inland Empire communities helped to raise a total of $176,298.57 for local families in need through the 11th annual Walmart and Sam’s Club Fight Hunger Spark Change campaign, according to a recent news release.

There are an estimated 530,000 people in Riverside and San Bernardino facing hunger, and the campaign has been a way for food banks, like Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB), to partner with Walmart, Sam’s Club, associates, and suppliers to help provide more meals to people in need.

"It is a true joy to once again partner with incredible supporters through the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. Campaign,” said Carolyn Fajardo, CEO at FARSB. “For 11 years, this initiative has been a steadfast ally in our mission to provide not just nourishment but hope and joy to families across our community,” said Fajardo.

Each Walmart and Sam’s Club was matched with at least one of 200 local Feeding America partner food banks. In Riverside County, there are Walmart and Sam's Club stores in Beaumont, Corona, Hemet, La Quinta, Lake Elsinore, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Perris, Riverside, San Jacinto, and Temecula, as well as across San Bernardino County.

Through the campaign, shoppers made monetary donations at checkout or purchased participating items in stores or online to benefit their local food bank. For every participating product purchased, the participating supplier donated to FARSB.

For this year’s campaign, the 20 participating suppliers for Walmart include Bush Brothers & Company; CELSIUS® Essential Energy Drink; The Clorox Company, The Coca-Cola Company; Conagra Brands; Dole Packaged Foods; Ferrara; Ferrero; General Mills; The Hain Celestial Group; Hershey Salty Snacks; Kellanova; W.K. Kellogg Company; Keurig Dr Pepper; Kodiak; Kraft Heinz; Monster Energy; Pepsi-Cola Advertising & Marketing, Inc.; Red Bull; Unilever.

The 8 participating suppliers for Sam's Club include: General Mills; W.K. Kellogg Company; Kraft Heinz; Nestlé; Nissin; Nongshim; Palmetto Gourmet Foods, A Borealis Foods Company; Unilever. To learn more about how you can join the fight to end hunger, visit www.FeedingIE.org

The campaign has provided over 2 billion meals* to Feeding America food banks nationwide. Locally, funds raised in the Inland Empire sustain FARSB’s daily operations, supporting food pick-ups, efficient receiving and loading, and facility upkeep. This critical support ensures that FARSB can meet and expand to address the growing needs of their community.

“Fighting hunger across the country is part of our purpose to help people live better,” said Kayla Burton, senior manager, cause marketing and customer engagement at Walmart. “We’re grateful to the Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, customers, members, and suppliers who came together to support their local Feeding America food banks through this year’s Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign.”

For nearly 20 years, Walmart, Sam's Club, and the Walmart Foundation have worked with Feeding America, local food banks, food pantries, and meal programs to transform the charitable food experience, supporting Feeding America and local food banks with more than $240 million in investments – more than $160 million from the company and the Walmart Foundation and nearly $95 million from customers and members.

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