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For more than two decades Walmart and Sam’s Club have been strong partners in our work supplying food and financial donations to support families, children, and seniors in our region.

“We’ve had a great partnership with your organization,” shares Tim Sundstrom, Club Manager of Sam’s Club. “We have a lot of good food items that can be reused in our community. Our partnership helps reuse and recycle food that would potentially go to waste just because it is beyond a sell-by date. The food gets to be used to help others.”

In addition to the 1.2 million meals made possible by their local surplus food donations annually, national efforts like the 10th Annual “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign help feed our neighbors. In fact, your support by rounding up at the register or purchasing specially marked products resulted in nearly 85,000 meals in 2022 alone. We’re grateful to partners like Walmart and Sam’s Club for supporting our Northland neighbors in need.

We met Sylvia and Maria at one of our Duluth partner food shelves that you help us support. Maria, who lives in a senior apartment community, was happy to come along with her daughter to pick up food, something she hasn’t been able to do for the past three years of the pandemic.

Being of Italian heritage, Maria loves cooking. “It gives me joy to have this food and share with my wonderful neighbors,” she explained.

Maria’s senior community benefits from her generosity. Like her, many are living on a fixed income and recent price increases for groceries and everyday essentials have made it difficult to make ends meet.

Sylvia gets emotional when she talks about her mom. “Her being healthy and having this outlet gives her a purpose in life, to be able to do what she enjoys: cooking and sharing with her community.”