THANK YOU to the sponsors of our Community Fundraising Breakfast for their generous support in helping to feed the homebound:

		Mike Millegan Sheryl Sellaway Joan Punt of United Concordia Bianchi & Assoc., Inc. NewCastle Mortgage NM Mutual Casualty Co. Yanni’s Mediterranean Restaurant Nick & Jimmy’s Restaurant Bank of Albuquerque Sandia Laboratory Federal Credit Union Reynolds Enterprises, Ltd.

Walmart Foundation Gives $12,000 to Meals on Wheels of Albuquerque

MARCH 8, 2010 (Albuquerque, NM) – Meals on Wheels of Albuquerque will receive part of a substantial Walmart Foundation grant to the Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA).  The $12,000 award to Meal on Wheels of Albuquerque will help pay for a much-needed delivery van, which is critical to continue serving the homebound throughout the city.

Meals on Wheels of Albuquerque delivers more than 525 meals a day to people of all ages, including clients ranging in age from 27 to 104. It caters to a wide range of specialized dietary needs and provides them with vital social contact in the process.

"These vans are so important to us and a life-line for those we serve each day.  With the number of meal programs around the country applying for these grant dollars we feel very fortunate to have been selected.  We appreciate the Walmart Foundation helping us in our fight to eradicate senior hunger in our country,” said Executive Director Samantha Blauwkamp. New Mexico was recently named fifth in the nation for food insecurity for seniors and is in the top 10 for food insecurity overall.

This financial support comes as many Meals on Wheels programs across the country are struggling to survive. Last year, many Meals on Wheels programs were forced to change or reduce their services, but the Walmart Foundation stepped in to help restore those meals.  This year, the Walmart Foundation is spending more than $2 million nationwide to make sure Meals on Wheels programs have the equipment they need to maintain their operations into the future.

“Seniors have been hit especially hard in this economy and we feel a responsibility to help,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. “We’re proud to support Meals on Wheels programs across the U.S.”

www.mow-nm.org

Meals on Wheels of Albuquerque was founded in 1972 and today provides more than 130,000 meals a year to people of all ages regardless of age or disability. Its mission is "Nourishing bodies and spirits of the homebound with balanced meals and friendship."

About Philanthropy at Walmart 

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on creating opportunities in education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From February 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009, Walmart – and its domestic and international foundations – gave more than $423 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.