Walmart...WOW

[monkeyboy]

Items such as clothing, diapers, baby wipes, food, formula, toothbrushes, bedding and water will be given out free of charge to those with a demonstrated need at "Mini- Wal-Mart" locations.
Following President Bush’s announcement yesterday that former Presidents Bush and Clinton will lead a nationwide fundraising effort to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Wal-Mart President and CEO Lee Scott contacted President Clinton and the White House and committed a $15 million cash donation from Wal-Mart to jump-start the effort.
The Emergency Contact Service has been created in our stores and on the internet to allow Wal-Mart associates and customers to post messages regarding their well-being on our websites.
We are donating the use of our parking lot in Covington, LA, for emergency services and electric utilities for staging areas and "camping" areas.
We have management on the ground, working with moving supplies, helping stores to re-open, and helping displaced Wal-Mart associates. We are taking calls from associates needing emergency assistance and sending cash through our Associate Disaster Relief Fund.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS – Cash is what is needed most right now.

Wal-Mart has committed $15 million in cash to the relief effort, plus $1 million in cash donated to the Salvation Army by Wal-Mart to help them with activities such as providing 400,000 meals per day and portable showers and $1 million in cash donated to the American Red Cross by Wal-Mart, which will help them continue to run shelters and provide relief.
To make it convenient for people to donate to this effort, we are accepting donations for major relief efforts at all 3,800 Wal-Mart and SAM’S CLUB locations.
To make it easy for people to contribute from home, all Wal-Mart and SAM’S CLUB web sites now link to the Salvation Army and Red Cross for donation support.
For our associates, we are providing funds through our Associate Disaster Relief Fund, which helps them obtain money for lodging, food, etc. Additionally, we are making exceptions to our pay policies for this disaster that will be based on facility and impact. Finally, we have a dedicated hotline set up for our associates in need.
NEEDS AS REQUESTED – We are answering the needs of state and national emergency relief organizations

Donated truckloads of water and ice in Louisiana for Emergency Services.
Donated the use of two of our facilities to the State of Louisiana Emergency Services for their staging needs
Working through the Wal-Mart Emergency Operations Center, Distribution Centers and the Wal-Mart Foundation, we are responding to requests for “needed” products to supply specific stations and areas

 

[MosMom]

I know MB. For a company that has about 80 stores of their own currently closed due to this their support and outpouring of resources and money has been amazing.

 

[Free4Life11]

Yeah I am really impressed with WalMart! They are doing a lot to help the devastation!

 

[dturner]

I heard last night on the news about the 15 million Walmart was donating - GOOD FOR THEM!!!!! I know a lot of people hate Walmart but I don't - WAY TO GO WALMART - now if the other big U.S. companies would follow suit.......

 

[Chicago526]

While I still don't care for their business practices, in this instance, they are an example of what other corporations can and should do.

 

[Geoff_M]

For all the garbage that gets thrown at Wal-Mart, they seem to really step up to the plate in cases like this. If you'll remember in July we held the National Scout Jamboree in VA. I was on Staff for the event that had about 40,000 participants. You'll probably remember that on the day of our scheduled Opening Arena Show the temp was about 100 degrees and the show (where the President was supposed to speak) was canceled due to the number of people dropping from the heat and an approaching severe thunderstorm. Drinking water was a problem for that show. People feared that the next show might have similar problems.

One staffer, who is a Wal-Mart employee, decided to call his store and see if Wal-Mart could send some bottled water to help. His store called up and food chain at Wal-Mart and the next thing we knew about 75,000 bottles of water showed up at the Jambo in semi trucks free of charge from Wal-Mart.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

As a former member of management of Sam's Club, I'm not surprised. Wal-Mart is really good about helping out in a crises. Last time there was a major hurricane we were asked to contribute direct debits from our paychecks to help out fellow associates affected. I hope more companies do the same.

 

[barbeml]

Great to hear.