Nine area stores donating thousands of pounds of meat, bakery & deli items to support local food banks and agencies helping the hungry

DENVER, July 28, 2008 – Walmart announced today that its nine Sam’s Clubs in the Denver area were up and running with a new program to contribute meat, bakery goods and deli products to local food banks.

Speaking at a news conference, Di Uhlenkamp, Market Manager for Sam’s Club, said that the nine Denver area clubs from Louisville to Lone Tree were part of a program launched nationwide in April after testing for the past two years. In the short time the program has been operating, more than 60,000 pounds of food have been contributed, she said.

Uhlenkamp said the program had been rapidly expanded in cooperation with America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network. Implementation has required local food banks to provide refrigerated transportation and storage. She said Walmart, which has approximately 3,400 stores throughout the nation, was in the pilot phase of a plan to join Sam’s in making food contributions.

Eight of the Denver-area clubs contribute to Food Bank of the Rockies. The Louisville club directs its contributions to Community Food Share of Boulder.

Speaking for Food Bank of the Rockies, Director of Marketing Janie Gianotsos explained how the Sam’s Club program comes at a time of tremendous need. Demand for food assistance has grown 20 percent, and costs to procure and distribute food have also increased. The donations will help many people who struggle to put food on their tables.

Eric Davis, director of food sourcing for America’s Second Harvest, said: “We are extremely grateful to Walmart and Sam’s Club for undertaking the Herculean task of creating a huge food rescue program at their stores across the nation. This new endeavor will help provide millions and millions of pounds of safe and nutritious food too many hard-working Americans living on the brink of hunger.”

He added: “Food and gasoline prices are soaring, and demand at our food banks is at record levels, so this new donation policy could not come at a better time.”

Walmart has 16 Sam’s Clubs in Colorado. In addition to the Denver-area clubs, there are two in Colorado Springs and others in Evans, Pueblo, Grand Junction, Ft. Collins and Loveland. All are working with food banks in their areas to implement the program. Since 2005, Walmart and its customers have contributed more than $16 million to help feed the hungry in America.

About Walmart
Every week, millions of customers visit Walmart 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 Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $296 million to local communities in the United States. More information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com.

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