Students Get Backpacks of Weekend Meals

Walmart News Release

The Maui Food Bank received a $55,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation’s Hawaii State Giving Council. The grant supports the agency’s Aloha BackPack Buddies program and provides 11,000 backpacks to children-in-need, or approximately 66,000 meals throughout the 2017-18 school year. Of the 20 participating schools in Maui County, five are on Molokai:  Kaunakakai Elementary, Kilohana Elementary, Maunaloa Elementary, Molokai High and Aka`ula School.

The program provides elementary school children, who are on the free and reduced meal program at their school, a pre-filled backpack on Fridays that contains six meals they take home for the weekend.

“We are so appreciative of the Walmart Foundation’s continued support of our Maui community outreach and programs like Aloha BackPack Buddies,” said Rich Yust, Executive Director of the Maui Food Bank. “Thanks to Walmart and their Hawaii State Giving Council, our community is moving forward on a path towards ending hunger among our island keiki.”

“Walmart is proud to be a leader in the fight against hunger and to support local organizations like the Maui Food Bank and others in the communities we serve,” said Walter Lott, store manager of Kahului Walmart. “It’s the right thing to do. No child should ever have to face hunger alone.”

To be considered for support, prospective grantee organizations must submit applications through the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program’s online grant application.  Applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in order to meet the program’s minimum eligibility criteria.  Additional information about the program’s funding guidelines and application process are available online at walmartfoundation.org/stategiving.

For more details on the Aloha BackPack Buddies program, visit www.mauifoodbank.org.