Walmart steps up for San Joaquin United Way

Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, recently awarded a $25,000 grant to support the San Joaquin County chapter of the United Way.

The money will go to help the United Way’s Food 4 Thought, which helps feed and educate at-risk kids in local schools, administered through Second Harvest Food Bank. Children who attend the tutorial program eight hours each week receive at least four hours of studying how to achieve better nutrition, as well as a 15- to 18-pound bag of groceries twice a month. Overall, Food 4 Thought distributes about 90,000 pounds of food per month at a value of $140,000.

The program works through existing outlets that deal with schools and community centers, “where there is a concentration of families that are most at risk of going hungry,” according to the United Way.

Andy Prokop, CEO and president of the San Joaquin United Way, said the support will help continue a vitally important service. Mike Mallory, who heads the food bank, agreed.

“Thanks to our partnership with United Way in San Joaquin County, we continue to meet the needs of at-risk students…,” said Mallory, who called Walmart’s grant “generous.”

The money was given through the company’s California State Giving Program, according to Debbie Rood, Walmart’s general manager for Northern California.

“We are grateful to be a part of a community project dedicated to helping children and their families in San Joaquin County live healthier lives,” she said.

Second Harvest Food Bank also receives grant support from the Tracy Community Council of the United Way.

Giveaway a huge success

The Sikh Temple in Tracy gave away jackets, socks, gloves and food Nov. 27.

According to Mike Sandhu, more than 2,000 people showed up during the course of the giveaway, with the line sometimes stretching to 400 people.

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