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Local communities eligible for funds
Fighting Hunger Together campaign
YOUNGSTOWN
The Youngstown-Warren area is among Ohio communities eligible to receive up to $1 million to help fight hunger by shopping Walmart stores or visiting the company’s Facebook page through April 30.
Fighting Hunger Together, the anti-hunger movement to raise 42 million meals nationally, began Monday with an announcement by representatives from participating organizations: Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, The Band Perry, Kimberly Williams-Paisley and four of the nation’s largest food companies — General Mills, ConAgra Foods, Kraft Foods and Kellogg Co.
At the event in Nashville, Tenn., leaders of the campaign said customers can participate by shopping at Walmart or visiting the company’s Facebook page to vote for one of 200 communities hardest hit by unemployment.
The community with the most votes will receive $1 million to help fight hunger.
The next 20 communities with the most votes will each receive $50,000 for hunger relief.
The Facebook campaign will also provide information on how users can donate or volunteer with hunger fighting organizations in their local communities.
Besides Youngstown, Ohio communities eligible for the contest are Steubenville, Toledo, Dayton, Lima, Sandusky, Cincinnati, Akron, Canton, Springfield and Mansfield.
Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, which distributes food to 153 hunger relief organizations in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties, is participating in Walmart’s Facebook campaign.
“What we are asking Facebook users in the tri-county area to do is visit Walmart’s corporate Facebook page, click the logo “Fighting Hunger Together.” Once they are on Walmart’s Facebook page, select Ohio, and then choose the ‘Youngstown-Warren, OH Area,’” said Becky Miller, Second Harvest spokeswoman.
“Facebook users can vote once per day for the community of their choice and they need not live in the area for which they vote,” said Miller, who urged everyone in the tri- county area to cast their votes daily.
She said the six Walmart stores in the tri-county area will collect food now through April 30 for the Fighting Hunger Together campaign.
Also, she said “Stuff the Truck” events are scheduled on April 21 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Walmart Supercenter in Salem, 2875 East State St.; and April 28 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Walmart Supercenter in Austin-town, 6001 Mahoning Ave.
Walmart associates will volunteer their time outside the stores asking customers to purchase extra items for Second Harvest, which will have trucks on site to receive the donations, Miller said.
For information on Second Harvest, visit www.mahoningvalleysecondharvest.org or call 330-792-5522.
Spring traditionally brings a decrease in donations to food banks, leaving them unable to meet the needs of nearly 49 million Americans who at some point this year will be uncertain where their next meal will come from, said Jack Sinclair, executive vice president of Walmart’s U.S. grocery business.