Catholic Charities receives $72,750 grant from Walmart

    Catholic Charities Home Supplies and Food Bank announced it has received a  $72,750 grant from the Walmart Foundation to increase food assistance programs in surrounding rural areas where approximately one quarter of the population struggles to put food on the table.  Last year alone, the Home Supplies and Food Bank provided food for more than 18,000 families.
    The donation will facilitate the opening of a new warehouse in Monticello, to serve as a new distribution center. The donation will also provide for the purchase of essential equipment for storing and transporting food in the following communities: Aroostook, Penobscot, and Washington counties. Catholic Charities estimates an increase of 6,000 families will receive fresh and healthy foods in these three rural areas as a result of this donation. 
    “This money will allow us to expand into rural areas and have a distribution site closer to their communities so we can provide more healthy foods like fresh vegetables,” said Steve Letourneau, CEO of Catholic Charities Maine.   “We’re so excited to be selected as a recipient of this national grant.“
    Catholic Charities Maine is among 12 Catholic Charities USA Agencies that are sharing in a $760,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation this holiday season. The donation is part of Walmart’s $19 million holiday giving campaign to help guarantee Christmas for U.S. nonprofits dedicated to fighting hunger and providing other basic needs. The retailer has also launched a way for Facebook users to nominate local nonprofits for a chance to receive funding during the holidays.
    Walmart’s holiday giving comes at a critical time: USDA reports nearly 15 percent of households located outside of metropolitan areas are at risk of hunger, and U.S. Census Bureau data shows more than 46 million Americans live in poverty, the highest number recorded in the U.S. in 52 years.