Is there anything good about WalMart??

[kentuck]

No doubt, they employ a lot of people. But would these folks have other jobs if they were not working at WalMart? Do they take away more jobs than they add?

Is it bad that people can buy all this "stuff", including groceries, at lower prices than most other stores offer?

Do they cause a lot of local stores and shops to close because they cannot compete? Or is that simply an urban myth?

Do they pay a lot less than other employees in this country or do they simply pay the prevailing wage in the communities where they build their stores?

Is it wrong that the Walton family fortune is worth more than 130 countries?

What is your major reason for disliking WalMart?

[G_j]

1. Walmart cares..

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[lpbk2713]

2. Being employed by Wally World is by no means an end all.

Lots of people receiving WM paychecks also have to rely
on government and charity assistance just to squeak by.

The Walton family has no shame.

[bitchkitty]

3. I hate them because they're assholes who don't care about their workers. n/t

[liberal_at_heart]

4. Like it or not they did start the $4 generic prescription idea. Many pharmacies jumped on board

after that. Does one good thing balance out all the bad they do? No. But like with many things in life, most things are not all pure evil or all pure good.

[Stuart G]

5. There is one thing that they did that was good.

In their prescription department, they offered very cheap generic medicine. I think if you had certain medicines that were generic, the out of pocket cost, even without insurance was four dollars. Other chains had to come close to matching them. It brought down the cost of certain generic drugs. Sure they are assholes, and everyone knows who they are. But the original post asked, Is there anything good about WalMart? and I just gave something that they did that was good.

[rurallib]

18. wonder how many local pharmacists were driven out of business

by that? My guess is not many, since they had probably driven most out in the 90s

[oldhippie]

22. Local pharmacists?

I haven't seen a "local pharmacist" in anywhere I have lived in decades.

[rurallib]

23. we have one in my town

another DUer (good friend) saw her brother driven out of business by Walmart.
True there aren't many around and many in small towns were run out by Walmart.

[liberal_at_heart]

29. I'm sorry your friend's brother was driven out of business, but the price of

medicine needed to come down. So does the price on all parts of our healthcare system.

[1monster]

30. The last local pharmacies that I knew were driven out of business in the late 1970s and not

by Walmart. It was Eckerds (now CVS), Revco (bankrupted by junk bond deals in the 1990s), RiteAid (I think they are gone now too), K-Mart, and grocery store pharmacies. Walmart was only part of the mix.

[dixiegrrrrl]

31. Wal mart was here for a long time across the street from our local pharmacy

That pharmacy had been here forever and had a lot of customer loyalty plus very good prices.

You know what killed it?

WalGreens moved in.
Right next to a Rite-aid and a block from the pharmcy.
and bought out the pharmacy..owner was getting on and wanted to retire.

[KamaAina]

6. The low prices are an illusion.

They're there to drive out the competition. Once other stores close, up they go.

[NYC_SKP]

7. * raises hand * "Ooh, ooh, I know this one!"

No doubt, they employ a lot of people. But would these folks have other jobs if they were not working at WalMart? Do they take away more jobs than they add?

Is it bad that people can buy all this "stuff", including groceries, at lower prices than most other stores offer?
This "stuff" comes with a hidden price in the form of abysmal worker and environmental conditions that make the low prices possible, but make the owners ridiculously wealthy.

Do they cause a lot of local stores and shops to close because they cannot compete? Or is that simply an urban myth?
Absolutely. They might even cause more job losses due to promotion of foreign made goods. No question, however, about big box stores taking away sales from smaller competitors.

Do they pay a lot less than other employees in this country or do they simply pay the prevailing wage in the communities where they build their stores?
[I know of no studies that have investigated this question, but it's a terrific question that doesn't diminish the importance of your other questions.

Is it wrong that the Walton family fortune is worth more than 130 countries?
Yes, I think it wouldn't be the case if we were living under a more equitable system.

What is your major reason for disliking WalMart?
Personally, because they sucked up two great local bicycle shops to their location 12 miles away and, generally, for the other reasons described above.

[mynaturalrights]

8. probably no different than the bank you choose to use

Or the credit card card you have in your wallet or purse.

They also don't pay well the tellers or the phone operators , they out source when ever they can
to India. What's the board members and CEO"s pay in those places.

It's all bullshit

[Fla_Democrat]

9. Their "Diet Mountain Lightning"

is pretty good.

[world wide wally]

10. My greatest complaint with Walmart is somewhat unique. Of course, I

hate the low wages and all that goes along with that, but what bugs me most is the way they have eliminated the local cultures around the country.

We take a long road trip around the country every summer and it has become impossible to tell if you are in Wyoming or South Carolina without the road sings once you get off the Interstate. Every downtown is an assemblage of closed down stores and gives the impression of being a ghost town or approaching one. Then on the edge of town, visible from the Interstate is a Walmart with a packed parking lot.

Just sucks to me.

[LuckyLib]

16. This has been our experience as well. Old family small towns that are a shell

of their former selves once WalMart built their box and the small businesses in town withered. Really sad.

[xulamaude]

46. Absolutely. nt

[Glassunion]

11. Nope

Yes they employ a lot of people. But at crap wages and mostly part time. Yes there have been studies on local economies after Walmart opens shop in an area, and the number of jobs do go down.

Yes their stuff is cheap, but it has a high cost. 91% of all products they sell are produced in China, where their government subsidizes their exports so that other manufacturers (like those here in the US) cannot compete.

Yes local stores do close up.

Yes they do pay less than other employers in this country. If they drive others out, like supermarkets, and hardware stores, then Walmart will set the prevailing wage, not the other way around.

No it is not wrong that the Walton family has a shit-ton of money. It is wrong that they make it born on the slave labor of China, and here in the US.

My major reason for disliking Walmart - See above.

[loli phabay]

13. the parking.

[Liberal_in_LA]

14. they let RV dwellers park in their lots - homeless or otherwise.

Walmart Stores That Provide Overnight RV Camping - There are plenty of Walmart stores that DO allow overnight RV parking, and you can find a state-by-state directory of those locations here. Because you are all great "citizens of the road", we know you'll follow camping etiquette, no matter where you stop. Here are some things to remember, however, when you're pulling into a Walmart "campsite":
This is "dry camping", so there won't be electricity, water or dump stations available while you're there. You'll need to find a dump station elsewhere (you may want to check out rvdumps.com for this), as well as filling water tanks and using your own generator. Seems obvious, but it's always worth mentioning.
Park only in the spaces designated for RV parking. You should always double-check with the store ahead of time, so you aren't rudely awakened by a security guard!
To benefit RVer's world-wide, always leave your campsite clean, whether in a Walmart parking lot or at an exclusive resort. Blowing trash from motorhome campers could shut down this generous benefit from Walmart.
Walmart Stores That Do Not Provide Overnight Camping - Not all Walmart locations allow overnight RV parking. You can use this link to find stores that don't offer this service. Please keep our public image shiny by respecting the policies of these stores.

- See more at: http://www.elmonterv.com/guide/rv-rental-information/overnight-stay-information/#sthash.rDlJNU2p.dpuf

[cherokeeprogressive]

20. OTR Truckers too. There's an APP to find out which ones allow Truckers to park overnight. n/t

[jmowreader]

17. My major problem with Walmart is, evil spreads

If Walmart decides to do something evil (cutting all their employees' hours in half, reducing staffing levels, anything) and their profit margin goes up a tenth of a percent because of this evil thing, 95 percent of the big box retail industry will follow suit.

[TBF]

19. The problem is really capitalism -

not that WalMart is not a bad actor, but the problem is bigger. Walmart is a convenient scapegoat - if only they were a kinder, nicer capitalist organization.

When we finally get around to looking at the elephant in the room the founders of places like WalMart will be long gone with our $$$ ...

[Half-Century Man]

21. Something good about WalMart?

An excellent bad example.
Displaced all that muddy farmland with nice smooth concrete.
When the riots over the class disparagement finally happen, they conveniently gathered all the stuff in one place in most small towns.
Uh..................that's all I guess.

[moondust]

24. Logistically and environmentally speaking,

in an age of fossil fuel depletion and climate change, there is something to be said for big box stores: moving goods to fewer locations where shoppers can make fewer trips to get most of what they need under one roof at cost advantages afforded by economies of scale.

But if big box stores are preferred or considered necessary for environmental reasons, perhaps they should be owned and operated for the primary benefit of the public. Perhaps the government should buy Walmart and run it like a military PX for the public but without excessive managerial salaries, at least a living wage for all employees, full staffing as necessary, and an emphasis on supporting American-made products--all of it without the influence of Wall Street and the need to keep growing profits, growing profits, growing profits.

A public option for everyday shopping.

[cally]

25. Lead retail industry in adopting and innovating sustainable building design

Their efforts transformed the industry and they consistently lead the way in energy savings and other sustainability practices. Not perfect but better than most.

[PowerToThePeople]

26. Well they have proven

That centralized management can work in an economy of very large scale with technology that exists currently.

So, a centrally managed socialist economic system is very a achievable. We can in fact manage the goods and services of the whole country with proper implementation.

[CFLDem]

27. Everything I could need in one place

at reasonable prices.

[beac]

35. Those prices aren't as "reasonable" as you think...

[CFLDem]

38. I don't really see any practical

and price equivalent options in my area as the nearest Costco is over an hour away.

[beac]

42. Here's where I think you aren't understanding me...

the prices you are paying at Walmart are JUST AS HIGH as any other store in your town except you are paying part directly to Walmart and part in higher taxes to and/or fewer services from your local government b/c they give massive subsidies to Walmart.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/31/walmart-taxpayers-house-report_n_3365814.html

http://money.msn.com/now/post.aspx?post=96788602-ad1c-46a7-b7f5-23416977b75e

http://walmart1percent.org/issues/top-reasons-the-walton-family-and-walmart-are-not-job-creators/

So, you pay higher taxes and/or get fewer services so Walmart can PRETEND their items cost you less while Walmart, not content with the subsidies they are already getting, finds even MORE ways to pay almost no tax at all:
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB117027500505994065

[CFLDem]

48. Prices may be just as high

but the location and shopping experience is convenient.

As a bonus the taxes don't affect me much due to my very average income and smart decision of living in an income tax free state.

So not really seeing the drawbacks here.

[beac]

54. Well, as long as we've established that your experience and convenience is

more important than giving Walmart workers a living wage and that you are okay with your local schools/infrastructure/etc. suffering so the Waltons can be multi-billionaires, I guess we are done here.

[Purrfessor]

59. For many people in rural communities Walmart is

the only option.

[beac]

60. But it is NOT, by his/her own admission, the only option

for the person with whom I was having the discussion.

[Scootaloo]

28. There's no wal-mart in my community, and the council refuses to approve one

So that's good

[Nye Bevan]

32. If Walmart shut down tomorrow, closing all its stores and firing all of its employees,

would that generally be a good thing or a bad thing?

[kydo]

51. Bad in the short term great for the long haul

If wally world closed its doors right now today for good there would be tons celebrating. The down side is the loss of jobs. The upside is they won't be unemployed for long as all those companies that were put out of business when wally world came to town will slowly come back - someone will have to fill the shopping void. While old companies will not be back new ones will and they will probably pay better and support their workers way better then wally world ever could.

[dixiegrrrrl]

33. the answers to your questions are...it depends.

Depends on the location of the store.
If the store is in a city, like Moble, people can find work at other places there.

If it is in a rural town, like where I live, that only has 2 other grocery stores, the low prices will win
and locals need the jobs.

If it offers very cheap prescriptions, it is a help to a high unemployment, low wage area.

People who are pinching pennies are going to spend those pennies where they can get the most for the money.
Boycotting stores is a great idea if one can afford to do so.

Idealism and reality sometimes clash.

[HowardCrane]

34. Walmart Doesn't Want You to See or Share This Video

To answer your question simply, no. There isn't anything particularly good about Walmart. It is no secret that Wal-Mart pays its associates low wages. The wages are so low, in fact, one store branch even held a canned food drive for their own employees to donate food to other employees for the holidays. The company employs over one million workers, which makes them the largest employer in America. The six members of the Walton family who own 50% of the company have the same net worth as the bottom 42% of American families COMBINED, which is equal to $144 billion dollars.

Watch here and share this article on social media forums to spread the word about Wal*Mart’s horrible business practices: Walmart Is It Too Much To Ask?

[In_The_Wind]

40. Hello ~ HowardCrane

[img][/img]

[beac]

43. Welcome to DU!

[City Lights]

36. IMO, no. nt

[bluestate10]

37. I don't normally shop at Walmart, but found myself there last week after trying to find

a specific small rack. A person told me that Walmart may have it and I went there and found it. The alternative was to loose time against a deadline that I was working against, a deadline that would have cost hundreds and maybe thousands of dollars.

My position on Walmart is that the company should stop advertising to convince the public how great it is and spend that money on salaries and benefits for associates. The positive upside of Walmart doing the right thing would be huge for it's low paid associates, taxpayers in general and Walmart.

[d_r]

39. I like their store brand version of v-8

It tastes a little more interesting than regular v-8. I think that the "natural flavors" on the ingredient list and the warning for people allergic to sardines probably explains why.

[sammythecat]

41. If and when we finally

find ourselves living in some kind of Orwellian, nightmarish, dystopia, Walmart will be there.

[rrneck]

44. Absolutely.

Restrooms. I like the idea of using their thirty million dollar building as my own personal outhouse.

[politicat]

45. I live in a town that got bit by Walmart twice.

Our local economy has been pretty stable, and our general relative prosperity has masked some of the detriments, but our town has a chronic budget problem due to the (popularly opposed but City Council approved) sweetheart tax rebate that was the result of a Supercenter expansion.

When WM originally came into the community, it killed several long-term local businesses, including hardware, small clothiers, pharmacy, appliances and electrics. But that was before I lived here, so I don't know if that was a full-on WM attack or just the result of an evolving economy.

Thirteen years ago, the old building was about 20 years old and one of the smaller ones, but it was also right next door to a grocery store. The grocery wanted to move a block up the street, which would have given WM room to more than double their space. Instead of renovating the buildings, WM insisted that they be allowed to build a Supercenter up the road (in a place that is much harder to reach by bike, public transit or on foot) and threatened to move across the town line entirely if they didn't get the permission and a tax rebate. The public opposed it, but City Council caved to WM's demands and the sales tax rebate is still pinching, ten years later.

With the old Walmart empty, the grocery (an Albertson's), which was already struggling, collapsed and our retail district died, leaving us with two empty big boxes, Then three, four, five as other local businesses faltered, and almost no retail on the south end of town (which is the more working class part of town as it happens) and more importantly, no groceries. We do have a grocer 2 miles away, but it's uphill and the route can be difficult on foot or bike, especially in winter. There's also limited public transit to the north end of town (the bus route skirts it because the streets are narrow and there is no room for expansion).

Then 2008 hit. Interestingly, we had a complete replacement of the City Council, and we now have all but one of the buildings filled with semi-independent businesses (though it did require declaring the buildings blighted and eminent domaining a couple -- blighted they were, after several years of minimal or no maintenance) and the south end is doing better. (The last building is occupied, but it's occupied by a megachurch, which means it's mostly empty most of the week, and doesn't generate much traffic for the other businesses, but does generate significantly unpleasant traffic with little to negative economic benefit on Sundays. Negative because the city has to pay for traffic management and traffic infrastructure without getting paid for it, and the church membership isn't great about patronizing local businesses after services.) From what I hear, the WMSC is not doing all that well, because the other businesses now in the old buildings (a farm & hardware store, an outdoors store, a grocer, a dollar store and thrift) are doing much better in part as a community protest against the sweetheart tax deal, and in part because the stores on the south end of town are much easier to deal with, both in terms of traffic and accessibility and in customer service.

Having the Supercenter did hurt the local economy for several years; the best estimate I've seen says it killed 2.5 jobs for every 2 it created. It certainly hurt the most vulnerable people in the community by putting them into a food and retail desert. We've come back, but it took some draconian measures (blight and eminent domain are powerful tools that can be horribly misused) that were highly uncomfortable to use in service of the greater good. Better that we had never needed to use them at all; best that the community had never gotten into bed with WM in the first place and thereby put ourselves in a position where they could blackmail us.

[xulamaude]

49. Excellent post - thanks for taking the time. nt

[joeybee12]

47. Walmart sells their store brand cat food, large cans, for 70 cents, other places the

cheapest you can get it for is a dollar...I feed 40 cats a day, I shop at Wal-Mart because of this.

Also, got a flat tire in Utah one Sunday morning...Wal-Mart was the only place open that could fix it...

[el_bryanto]

50. Walmart has a larger selection of Kool-aid than any other store in my area

That's pretty much the only thing i buy there these days.

Bryant

[Orsino]

52. Wal-Mart extracts wealth from communities, kills local businesses,...

...abuses and paupers its workers, all to enrich a handful of people in Arkansas.

It's a pyramid scheme.

[SlipperySlope]

53. The Wal-Mart of today isn't Sam Walton's Wal-Mart

I wonder what Sam Walton would think of what Wal-Mart has become?

The founder of Wal-Mart was committed to supporting American manufacturing. He selected American suppliers over foreign supplies when possible, and believed that supporting American manufacturing would strengthen the economy and the middle class.

Granted, a lot of that was just PR, but their was a kernel of truth to the idea that he wanted to do what was best for his customers and suppliers.

[kydo]

55. The only thing good to say about wally world was they have the best rats

They probably have real live rats in their store and they are probably the best too as they probably are low wage rat workers .... but I was actually referring to fake Halloween rats. They have the best fake rats. I was on a quest last year for some good rats for eating romney's brains for my Halloween yard decor. I gave wally world a try. I have set foot in side wally world exactly 4 times since 2000. Once to take pictures of wally world feel good types giving money to my local high school bad money. Twice also taking pictures of the local high school jazz band playing in side the wally world and also getting a check. And the last time to look for rats.

Oddly they had the cutest fake rats. I bought 6 spent less then 10$. The rats are awesome. They drive the cats outside nuts. But the raccoon was the funniest. Who'd have thunk it raccoons playing with fake rats all brought to me by wally world.

Ok that's all I got on the subject of what might pass as something good about wally world - fake rats.

[Warpy]

56. They were the first to lower the prices on generic drugs

and that kept me alive during my last protracted poverty period.

They've kept those prices low, too.

They're the only employer in a lot of small communities that were poorly served by small business, usually a mom and pop gas station and general store that didn't have much in the way of fresh food.

They just need to start paying the help. Sam Walton's kids need to realize that they're going to get richer a lot slower or they're going to be at the wrong end of a firing squad at some point. That is their choice if history is any guide.

[BlueStreak]

57. Just remember it was only about 25 years age when

a) WalMart was mostly smaller stores serving mostly rural, agricultural communities. Even then they were probably a net negative, but you had to think about it longer than a second or two.

b) At that time, they promoted themselves as the "Made in America" company. My, how that has changed.

Today? No, nothing they do comes close to overcoming the wreckage they have caused to our society.

[WonderGrunion]

58. Yes they do. Does it offset the bad that they do?

That’s the real debate.

When many companies are saying they will cut back full time employees to part-time due to Obamacare, Walmart has announced they are promoting people

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/10/29/walmart-kicks-off-holiday-season-with-on-the-spot-promotion-ceremonies-at-stores-across-the-country

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Oct. 29, 2013 – Walmart announced today that it is kicking off its holiday season with a special focus on more career opportunities for associates. The company expects to promote more than 160,000 associates to jobs with higher pay and more responsibility this year, including 25,000 promotions during its fourth quarter.
Top executives are traveling to stores today to congratulate promoted associates and thank them for the tremendous work they do serving the millions of customers who shop at Walmart. Promoted associates will receive higher pay and more responsibilities, as well as continued access to affordable health benefits.
“Our success from day one is a direct result of our associates and the hard work they do in taking care of our customers. We are proud to provide our people with additional opportunities for career growth and greater economic security for their families,” said Bill Simon, Walmart U.S. president and CEO. “Like most Americans, our associates want good jobs and access to a better life. Whether you are a cashier in Charlotte, or a stocker in Dallas or an assistant manager in Los Angeles, Walmart wants to see you succeed.”
Walmart provides more employment opportunities than any other company in America. In addition to standard salary and benefits, both full- and part-time associates at Walmart are eligible for quarterly bonuses based on the performance of their stores. Associates also receive a discount card to save 10 percent on most regularly priced general merchandise, fresh fruits and vegetables at any Walmart store.

Walmart is usually the first on scene with help at major disasters.

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/11/14/walmart-commits-1-million-in-response-to-typhoon-haiyan

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Nov. 14, 2013 -- Today Walmart (NYSE: WMT) and the Walmart Foundation are committing $1 million (USD) to the Red Cross and Save the Children for emergency relief efforts in response to needs created by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. The donation includes funds given by the Walmart Foundation and Walmart’s international operations.
In addition to the $1 million donation, Walmart is making it easy for U.S. customers and associates to make personal contributions to relief efforts by setting up online sites for donations to the Philippines through the Red Cross at http://www.redcross.org/cm/walmart-pub and http://www.redcross.org/cm/samsclub-pub.
“Giving back to our communities, especially in a time of need, is part of our culture at Walmart,” said Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart International. “A crisis only reinforces that commitment, and our thoughts are with the people affected by this disaster. We’re proud to help the Red Cross and Save the Children get vital assistance to the Philippines as quickly as possible.”
Funds donated by Walmart and the Walmart Foundation will focus on addressing immediate needs. It is a top priority of both the Red Cross and Save the Children to ensure the health and safety of those affected, particularly children. Both organizations are providing relief for immediate needs such as nutritious food, medical supplies and health care. Additionally, Save the Children will set up Child Friendly Spaces to help children cope with trauma and fear in the wake of this devastating storm.

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2005/05/04/25-million-to-be-given-to-tsunami-victims

The Facts:
• Associates and customers at various facilities, including Wal-Mart stores, SAM’S CLUBS, and distribution center locations in the U.S., have donated a total of $2.5 million to relief efforts for Tsunami victims in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India.
• The funds will be allocated as follows:
o $1 million will be allocated to the United Nations (UN) Foundation as part of former President Bill Clinton’s current initiative as the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Tsunami Reconstruction.
o $500,000 will be given to World Vision, an international organization providing shelter, education, meals and emotional counseling to children in the region.
o $200,000 will be given to the Rajaprachanukroh Foundation of Thailand, a Foundation helping to provide long and short-term disaster assistance, while providing special attention to orphans. This funding will be used specifically to assist in the building of schools that house kindergarten through secondary education.
o $200,000 will be allocated to the Prime Minister of India’s fund to support India’s relief efforts.
o $200,000 will be provided to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a group dedicated to delivering lifesaving aid in emergencies.
o $100,000 will be given to the Sri Lanka-Garment Buying Offices Association to provide funding to build more than 50 homes for displaced individuals.
o $100,000 will be given to Sarvodaya, an organization in Sri Lanka that helps take care of long-term needs of all Tsunami orphans under age 18.
o $100,000 to be provided to Mercy Corps, an organization that provides emergency relief services that assist people afflicted by conflict or disaster.
o $100,000 to be used to pursue local community efforts through our sourcing operations.
• The $2.5 million, which was raised by customers and associates at various collection points throughout the U.S., complements the Wal-Mart/SAM’S CLUB Foundation donation of $2 million given last December to the International Red Cross for Tsunami relief.
• Additionally, efforts in Wal-Mart stores in the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and Japan raised another $4.8 million bringing the total relief amount to more than $9 million generated through Wal-Mart support around the world.

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2011/03/15/walmart-commits-5-million-in-response-to-japan-earthquake

BENTONVILLE, Ark., March 15, 2011: Today Walmart (NYSE: WMT) announced an initial commitment of $5 million (USD) in cash and in-kind donations for emergency relief efforts in response to the tragic 9.0 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami that have left thousands dead and tens of thousands homeless in Japan. Also, Walmart operations around the world are planning or have implemented fundraising drives among associates and customers to provide additional relief funds for the victims.
Within the first three days following the earthquake and tsunami, Walmart associates, working across Japan, quickly took action to help by setting up distribution points for relief items in our store parking lots when the stores themselves were too damaged to open. In the immediate aftermath, our stores and distribution centers provided in kind donations to the victims including water, food and sanitary items.
“With the impact of this earthquake on our own communities, customers, associates and suppliers, we wanted to reach out with assistance as soon as possible,” said Scott Price, executive vice president, president and CEO of Walmart Asia. Price added that Walmart was also mounting a full scale operation to get additional relief supplies into Japan. The supplies include 95 tons of water, acrylic blankets, tents, warm clothes, fleece, portable toilets, flashlights, batteries, and other necessary relief items.
“Our operations in Japan are actively engaged in providing assistance on the ground, and we’re continuing to monitor the situation and look for additional ways that we can help with the relief efforts,” added Toru Noda, president and CEO, Walmart Japan. He added that since the disaster struck Walmart associates were working around the clock to keep supply going to the Seiyu stores in Japan which had become a lifeline for local communities.

Walmart also donates a lot of money to American community organizations

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/10/24/walmart-foundation-provides-25-million-to-share-our-strength-to-increase-the-availability-of-nutrition-education-programs-for-families

BENTONVILLE, Ark., October 24, 2013 – Today, the Walmart Foundation announced a $2.5 million grant to Share Our Strength to help families nationwide gain valuable hands-on shopping, cooking and nutrition education so they can eat healthy on a budget. The grant will provide 107,500 Americans with access to Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters program, which has a 20-year history of helping low-income families develop and maintain healthier eating habits. The initiative is part of Walmart’s and the Walmart Foundation’s $2 billion cash and in-kind commitment through 2015 to help fight hunger in America, and Walmart’s 2011 initiative to provide customers with healthier and more affordable food choices every day.
Today, 46.5 million Americans live in poverty according to U.S. Census data. For many families who struggle to make ends meet, there is a clear gap between the desire to eat healthy and the ability to consistently prepare nutritious meals for their families. Share Our Strength’s “It’s Dinnertime” report reveals that 85 percent of low-income families believe eating healthy is important, yet only half are able to prepare nutritious meals on a regular basis. The report also indicates the primary barrier is the perceived high cost of healthy foods. These challenges are especially detrimental to children, as poor nutrition can lead to behavioral, emotional and academic problems, [ii] and impair their overall development.[iii] Additionally, this November many families who participate in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) will see their benefits, which help pay for food, reduced. Having less money to spend on food each month will provide added challenges to families that participate in SNAP, and programs like Cooking Matters will help ensure that those impacted by the reductions have an increased understanding of how to identify healthy food and are able to buy it on a shrinking budget.
“Many families in America haven’t been given the opportunity to learn about how to eat healthy at home. Programs like Cooking Matters give families the tools necessary to maximize their resources, shop smart on a budget and develop better eating habits,” said Julie Gehrki, senior director of the Walmart Foundation. “Today we recognize ‘National Food Day’ because we believe that healthy eating can change lives. At Walmart, we take this to heart every day by making nutritious foods accessible and affordable for families across the country; and alongside partners like Share Our Strength we can help even more people eat healthier and live better.”
Over the next year, the grant will help provide shoppers with access to Cooking Matters at the Store shopping tours at Walmart stores and other grocers. These interactive sessions with trained guides are designed to teach four main skills: buying fruits and vegetables on a budget, comparing unit prices, reading food labels and identifying whole grain foods. In addition, the grant will support six-week Cooking Matters courses that introduce cooking, food budgeting and nutrition concepts proven to increase healthy eating. Following the completion of the six-week course, Share Our Strength found that 80 percent of adults who graduate report improved food budgeting practices, while 78 percent of adult and teen graduates report an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption.

http://news.walmart.com/walmart-foundation-grants-15-million-in-support-of-immigration-integration-programs-helping-hispanic-immigrants

BENTONVILLE, Ark., September 26, 2013 – Today, the Walmart Foundation announced $1.5 million in grants to help nearly 19,000 Hispanic immigrants access integration programs that will provide the knowledge, training and support needed to more easily assimilate into the American culture and become citizens of the United States. The grant will be divided between The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and the Hispanic Federation, working in partnership with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) to improve opportunities for Latino families. Specifically, the organizations will utilize their own grassroots networks to help immigrant families access English as a Second Language (ESL), civic and citizenship classes, as well as the support and information they need to complete the naturalization process over the next year.
More than 40 million foreign-born individuals live in the United States and about half of this population is comprised of immigrants from Latin America, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A Pew Hispanic Center survey revealed that the majority of Hispanic immigrants would like to become U.S. citizens but face common barriers that prevent them from completing the naturalization process. These barriers include a lack of language proficiency and the high cost associated with the naturalization process.
“Our ability to empower immigrants working to become U.S. citizens through support systems and valuable services is an important factor in the growth and prosperity of our nation,” said Lee Culpepper, vice president of corporate affairs at Walmart. “The integration programs offered by trusted organizations, like the NCLR, LULAC and the Hispanic Federation, help us work together to reduce the social and economic barriers immigrants face every day, and ultimately enable families to fully participate in the civic and economic life of our great country.”
Through a $1 million grant from the Walmart Foundation, NCLR will launch the “Bienvenidos” project to support 15,000 Hispanic adults as they work to become citizens. The project will provide ESL training and help immigrants engage with citizens and organizations in their local communities. The grant will impact adults in Albuquerque, N.M.; Chicago; Cleveland; Denver; Houston; Los Angeles; Memphis, Tenn.; New York; Oakland, Calif.; Philadelphia; San Antonio; San Diego; and Washington.

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/07/22/heller-schools-center-for-youth-communities-at-brandeis-university-receives-25-million-grant-from-the-walmart-foundation-for-2013-summer-youth-employability-initiative

WALTHAM, Mass., Monday, July 22, 2013 – Today the Brandeis Center for Youth and Communities announced it received a $2.5 million grant from the Walmart Foundation. The grant will directly support summer programs that employ, educate, and support young people as well as efforts to create a national dialogue on enhancing youth employability.
The grant supports competency-based summer jobs that integrate work and learning for 1,200 vulnerable youth in seven communities: Chicago, Detroit, Hartford, Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix/Maricopa County, and San Diego. The Brandeis Center awarded grants ranging from $100,000 to $300,000 to government and nonprofit agencies in these communities to implement the program. Teenagers will work 120 hours over the summer at hundreds of worksites. Brandeis researchers provide technical assistance to grantees and monitor and evaluate the quality and impact of the programs.
In addition, the Brandeis Center will create a national dialogue on youth employability development by engaging employers from all sectors to focus on what a young person needs to know and do to enter and succeed in today’s workforce. It will also help empower students to effectively document and communicate their skills to meet employers’ needs.
Professor Susan P. Curnan, Director of the Center for Youth and Communities and study leader for many summer youth initiatives, underscores the power of a competency-based approach to youth employability development: “We describe our approach to the summer program as ‘100% work, 100% learning.’ Summers matter – over the long term, youth who participate in year-round programs or multiple summer experiences intentionally combining work, learning, and support can improve educational outcomes, are less likely to drop out, have less difficulty getting and keeping jobs, and have higher lifelong earnings than those who do not.”

And Walmart is dedicated to Veterans

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/05/27/today-walmart-launches-veterans-commitment-plans-to-hire-100000-over-the-next-five-years

BENTONVILLE, Ark., May 27, 2013 – Today, Walmart launched the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment to offer a job to any honorably discharged veteran within his or her first 12 months off active duty, and projects to hire more than 100,000 veterans over the next five years.
“Hiring a veteran can be one of the best business decisions you make,” said Bill Simon, Walmart U.S. president and CEO and US Navy Veteran. “We believe Walmart is already the largest private employer of veterans in the country, and we want to hire more.”
“Veterans have a record of performance under pressure. They’re quick learners and team players and are leaders with discipline, training and a passion for service,” Simon continued. “I can think of no better group to lead in revitalizing our economy than those who have served in uniform. Through their service, veterans give us a land of freedom. When they return, it must be to a land of possibility.”
In April, Walmart participated in the Joining Forces Employment Announcement at the White House, and challenged companies to hire 100,000 veterans and their spouses by the end of 2013. To move this effort forward, Simon wrote to 50 CEOs in the U.S. to urge them to make hiring commitments of their own.

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/11/11/walmart-salutes-veterans-and-military-families-with-20-000-jobs-and-a-helping-hand-for-the-holidays

Operation Homefront Receives $1.5 Million for “Home for the Holidays” Program
The holidays can be an especially challenging time for military families with a deployed spouse, parent or child. Operation Homefront will receive $1.5 million to provide 25,000 toys and more than 17,000 meals to military families nationwide. The gift also will support Operation Homefront’s “Home for the Holidays” program, which will bring home 500 active duty military to spend the holidays with their families.
“It is because of partners like Walmart that we are able to honor our commitment to provide year-round emergency financial assistance to the families of our military members and wounded warriors,” stated Jim Knotts, Operation Homefront president and CEO. “Not only are our military families dealing with the challenge of deployment and separation from loved ones, but they’re also confronted by difficult economic situations like many Americans. In fact, this year alone, we’ve seen requests for emergency financial assistance triple over historical levels. We are proud of our partnership with Walmart, and through our combined efforts we can make this time of year much more meaningful for thousands of military families.”
Largest Single Donation to Fisher House “Sponsor a Family” Program
In addition, Walmart will give $500,000 to the Fisher House “Sponsor a Family” program, the largest single donation to the program, which provides a home away from home for families with a service member in the hospital for an illness, disease or injury. The funding will provide 50,000 nights of free lodging for families so they can be close to loved ones.
“As an organization, we work very hard to fill the gaps and help our military during very difficult times, usually when a loved one is sick, or recovering from an injury. Our ability to make an impact is amplified through the support of partners, like Walmart, going above and beyond the call of duty,” stated Ken Fisher, Fisher House Foundation chairman and CEO. “The support from Walmart will enable us to cover the cost for half of our guests during the next year, a gift that is truly priceless to those we serve.”

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/09/16/5-million-walmart-foundation-grant-helps-goodwill-grow-jobs-program-for-veterans-their-families

September 16, 2013 ROCKVILLE, Md. — The Walmart Foundation has granted $5 million to Goodwill Industries International to expand Operation: GoodJobs, an initiative that equips military veterans and their families with the tools they need to earn employment and ensure long-term financial wellness for themselves and their families. Building upon effective practices developed via the Operation: GoodJobs pilot, Goodwill will scale the program to serve more than 4,000 veterans and military families over three years.
Operation: GoodJobs originally launched in the spring of 2012 at Goodwill agencies in Austin and Houston, Texas, and Tacoma, Wash., with a $1 million grant from the Walmart Foundation. After successfully serving more than 800 veterans and families, Goodwill and the Walmart Foundation will expand the program to include nine additional Goodwill headquarters in four states with high concentrations of veterans: California, New York, North Carolina and Texas.
“Operation: GoodJobs not only assists veterans and their families with job training and placement and skills attainment, but also plans for each participant’s continued success by designing individualized, comprehensive plans that support the needs of the entire family, including spouses and adult children, and helps ensure their economic stability in the long term,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “Each participant in Operation: GoodJobs receives a complete career assessment and a development plan that includes a range of family needs, from basic needs such as child care, nutrition and shelter, to specific job training identified in the assessment process."
The program connects veterans and their families with opportunities to earn certifications, market-value credentials and degrees that will help them with their careers. In addition, Operation: GoodJobs provides soft skills training, including résumé writing skills, career testing, and translating military skills to civilian language. Goodwill works with hundreds of business partners to find the right match for both participants and businesses. Through Operation: GoodJobs, Goodwill also offers employers free placement and screening services, and post-placement support.

Finally, Walmart is a leader in corporate sustainability
http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/09/12/walmart-highlights-progress-on-the-sustainability-index

BENTONVILLE, Ark., September 12, 2013 – In front of an audience of associates, suppliers and nonprofit organizations at its Global Sustainability Milestone Meeting, Walmart today highlighted its progress with the Sustainability Index, a measurement system used to track the environmental impact of products. The company also outlined key initiatives where it can use its size and scale to help address “hot spots” and accelerate progress in supply chain sustainability.

“We’ve reached an acceleration point where we are moving from measurement to results. We’re starting to really drive progress with the Index,” Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke said. “This is about trust and value. Using less energy, greener chemicals, fewer fertilizers and more recycled materials – all of this – is the right thing to do for the planet and it’s right for our customers and our business.”

As of today, the Index has been rolled out across 200 product categories, and to more than 1,000 suppliers. By the end of this year, we expect the Index will expand to include more than 300 product categories and as many as 5,000 suppliers.

Since the Index rolled out broadly to Walmart product categories in August 2012, it has shown a consistent trend of improved product sustainability. For example, Walmart’s general merchandise department has improved its Index product sustainability score by an average of 20 percent; grocery department by an average of 12 percent; and consumables and health and wellness by an average of 6 percent.

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/04/15/walmart-announces-new-commitments-to-dramatically-increase-energy-efficiency-renewables

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – April 15, 2013 – Walmart President and CEO Mike Duke today announced the company’s next step on the path to achieving its goal of being supplied 100 percent by renewable energy. Unveiled at Walmart’s Global Sustainability Milestone Meeting, the company committed to achieving the following by Dec. 31, 2020:
1. Drive the production or procurement of 7 billion kWh of renewable energy globally every year, a 600 percent increase over 2010 levels;
2. Reduce the kWh/sq. ft. energy intensity required to power Walmart’s buildings globally by 20 percent compared to 2010 levels.
“More than ever, we know that our goal to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy is the right goal and that marrying up renewables with energy efficiency is especially powerful,” said Duke. “The math adds up pretty quickly – when we use less energy that’s less energy we have to buy, and that means less waste and more savings. These new commitments will make us a stronger business, and they’re great for our communities and the environment.”
Walmart’s six-fold increase in renewable energy projects is expected to be equal to eliminating the need for roughly two U.S. fossil fuel power plants. Based on external estimates of projected energy costs and other factors, the two new commitments are anticipated to generate more than $1 billion annually in energy savings once fully implemented.

http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2013/06/25/walmart-announces-10-new-solar-installations-in-maryland

(BENTONVILLE, Ark.) June 25, 2013 – Walmart and SolarCity today announced the completion of projects at eight Walmart stores and two Sam’s Clubs across the state of Maryland that will generate clean, renewable electricity. The energy produced by the new solar installations will generate approximately 4.1 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity annually – enough energy to power nearly 370 homes* – and are expected to supply between 5-20 percent of each store’s overall electricity use.
"In Maryland, we've set some of the most ambitious goals in the nation for advancing clean renewable energy and creating green jobs," said Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley. "We're helping businesses take advantage of solar incentives so they can save money while embracing the job-creating, planet-saving potential of our green economy. I commend the partnership between SolarCity and Walmart as a significant step forward toward a more sustainable future for generations to come."
“Building a clean energy economy creates new jobs and provides affordable, reliable clean energy choices for businesses,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, director of the Maryland Energy Administration. “The partnership between SolarCity and Walmart shows that we’re taking the right steps.”
With over 13,400 panels, the Walmart stores in Arbutus, Berlin, California, Cockeysville, Fallston, Hagerstown, Laurel and Severn, along with Sam’s Clubs in Salisbury and Severn will provide over 3.1 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity.