The Wal-Mart Foundation Awards Food Center $25,000
Providing 85,000 nutritious meals for those in need in New London County
New London, CT – The Wal-Mart Foundation awarded the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center (Food Center) $25,000 to purchase nutritious foods to support its Healthy Foods Program. The Healthy Foods Program focus is to increase the supply of nutritious food products to those in need to improve the health of those who are hungry in New London County.
The Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center, a partner distribution organization of Connecticut Food Bank which is part of Feeding America, provides the Food Center access to heavily discounted pricing. For each dollar the Food Center receives it is able to purchase 3.4 nutritious meals to be distributed into the community. The Food Center utilized the grant to purchase healthy food items such as cereal, eggs, 100% fruit juice and shelf stable milk in order to address a high demand for breakfast items that the Food Center typically would only receive on a seasonal basis.
“Wal-Mart has been very generous to the Food Center,” noted United Way’s president and ceo, Virginia L. Mason, “although this is our first monetary award, Wal-Mart has provided the Food Center with frozen food, fresh dairy, bread and household items weekly for nearly three years.”
United Way of Southeastern Connecticut is a non-profit organization that improves the lives of people who live and work in New London County and strengthens the community through local health and human service programs. Programs and partnerships that the United Way support improves community wellness, help children thrive, supply basic human needs, and promote independence. The Gemma E. Moran United Way Labor Food Center provides food and household items to 95 free food distribution sites throughout New London County. These sites include shelters, food pantries, after-school programs, day care centers, community meal sites and programs for the elderly.
