WalMart has announced a matching campaign for customer donations. Here is part of their announcement today, 8.31.17
To help those in need, Walmart is launching a customer campaign with the American Red Cross to assist with Hurricane Harvey relief. As part of the customer campaign, Walmart is matching customer donations two to one with cash and product donations of up to $10 million to support American Red Cross disaster relief.
Walmart’s initial focus will be on mega-shelters, providing items to meet basic needs, such as water, infant formula, diapers, underwear and personal hygiene products. We will also aim to increase comfort in these shelters by providing items such as TVs, DVDs, games and stuffed animals for children and healthy snacks, such as fresh fruit.
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation will also give additional cash and product donations totaling $10 million to support the Salvation Army, Feeding America, Convoy of Hope, Team Rubicon and the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund at the Greater Houston Community Foundation, as well as other organizations assisting food distribution, sheltering and cleanup efforts.
This commitment is an increase from the previously announced $1 million of in-kind donations for immediate relief. In addition, local stores in the Gulf region have provided food, merchandise and other supplies, such as baby formula, batteries and kayaks to first responders, the National Guard, police and fire departments, churches and shelter organizations.
Editor’s note: The Walmart campaign is of limited duration so they get to announce 20 million, but the commitment would not be that high if they don’t get enough customer participation. Here’s the time limit announced by the company:
“The campaign will run from August 31, 2017 through September 6, 2017.”
Walmart also announced that the donations from the company can be in cash or in needed goods and services, valued at the wholesale price Walmart pays for those goods. This increases the value of the donated items because they are not being valued at retail sales prices.