WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Responding to the devastating aftermath of the wildfires that have blazed across California, Wal-Mart has donated $1,000,000 to American Red Cross disaster relief efforts. In addition, Wal-Mart is also providing its customers with the opportunity to help by initiating a customer donation program in Wal-Mart stores across California.
The Red Cross has nearly 3,000 workers on site in Southern California, including volunteers from all 50 states, and is offering a wide range of support focusing on continued sheltering for those who need it. As of midnight last night, the Red Cross had 24 shelters opened, providing people with a safe place to stay. Additional Red Cross services include providing meals, distribution of clean up supplies and mental health support to provide a shoulder for those in need to lean on.
In addition to the generous $1,000,000 donation, local Wal-Mart stores and Sam's Clubs in California are setting up collection sites so that their customers can conveniently make cash donations to help support ongoing relief efforts.
"We are grateful for the generous support of Wal-Mart and their customers, providing help and hope to our neighbors in California during their time of need," said Mark W. Everson, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. "Wal-Mart's generosity, leadership and timely support of our humanitarian mission is greatly appreciated."
Wal-Mart has a history as a corporate leader in the area of disaster relief. In 2005, Wal-Mart donated more than $32 million in cash to aid Hurricane Katrina emergency relief efforts. This included $2 million in contributions to the Red Cross. Last year, Wal-Mart provided more than $2 million in disaster relief funds to assist in relief efforts across the nation, including floods and tornadoes disaster response.
"Wal-Mart has a long history of increasing our community support during times of disaster," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation. "The wildfires raging across Southern California have impacted customers, communities and our own associates. It was an easy decision to move forward with aiding relief efforts."
About the American Red Cross
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the California wildfires, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting http://www.redcross.org/.
About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Every week, millions of customers visit Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam's Club locations across America or log on to its online store at www.walmart.com. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Wal-Mart is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $270 million to local communities in the United States. To learn more, visit http://www.walmartfacts.com/, http://www.walmartstores.com/, or http://www.walmartfoundation.org/.
