Walmart donates $86,111 to local community
Large corporations oftentimes carry a stigma that local community is low on their priority list. Iola’s Walmart is trying to change that view. WALMART employees who volunteer in groups of five or more for at least 25 hours also are effective. LOOKING forward, Walmart associates are focusing on maintaining momentum.
For 2012, the Walmart foundation gave the area community $86,111 through an accumulation of donations, volunteerism and grants given to non-profit organizations in Allen County and surrounding areas. For 2011, such acts were valued at $30,000 by Walmart officials.
Volunteerism Always Pays (VAP) is a Walmart program that gives to eligible nonprofit organizations based on the time a Walmart associate spends volunteering at the organization.
Individual associates who complete at least 25 hours of uncompensated volunteer service with a qualifying organization may apply for VAP, which can result in a $250 award.
In addition to benefiting an organization, Walmart employees also see the upside to their efforts, said Shandie Wrench, Walmart asset protection manager.
“They see what it does, how it directly benefits the community,” which in turn makes the associates feel more invested in their communities, Wrench said.
Many of the fund raising activities are child-friendly, such as hula-hooping in the Walmart parking lot, and allow for associates to include their children.
“By volunteering my time I can also spend time with my kid,” Wrench said.
That’s a win-win for employees as they instill important values in their children, said Jeff Livingston, Walmart manager.
A total of 27 non-profit organizations have benefited from the individual VAPs, including Crest High School and the Kiwanis Club, which each received grants.
Maximum awards of $5,000 are available if at least 50 associates work a combined 250 hours for a cause. Five $5,000 events are allotted per store, which Iola’s Walmart maxed out in 2012.
Hope Unlimited, Iola Police Department, Thrive Allen County, Muscular Dystrophy Association and SAFE BASE are the local organizations that have benefitted from the group efforts.
The associates decide what organizations they will work toward.
“We don’t do it if it doesn’t benefit our community,” Livingston said.
Donations under $100 and for non-profit organizations can be applied for at the Walmart service desk.
An example: Coaches bought fresh fruit for athletes to eat, instead of visiting a fast food restaurant after games.
Another example: Teachers can purchase food items that relate specifically to an area of study.
“We already maxed out all the goals that had limits, now we need to find new and creative ways to (generate) money for our community,” Livingston said.
“I would like to see us hit $100,000,” Wrench added. “I know $86,000 is a lot, but if we could get a handful more associates to participate in the individual VAPs, we could do it.”
Livingston and Wrench said they would like to see more surrounding area organizations put in applications for grants. A few organizations in Humboldt applied the past two years, but they would like to see organizations in Le Roy, Colony and even farther away take advantage of the grants.
“We want to help benefit the organization that we benefit from,” through sales, Livingston said.
Iola’s Walmart has given the most to Muscular Dystrophy Association and Children’s Miracle Network in all of Southeast Kansas.
Other organizations Walmart has given grants or volunteer time to have included Adopt a Family, the Charley Melvin Mad Bomber, teacher appreciation and Allen County Animal Rescue Facility.
