Metro Health Food Pantry Receives $50,000 Walmart Feeding America Grant

WYOMING, MI, July 04, 2012 (Press-News.org) The Metro Health Community Clinic food pantry has received a $50,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program - its first ever from the retailer.

The grant application originally requested a $25,000 grant, which the clinic anticipated would allow them to provide assistance to 708 children and 390 adults. However the Walmart Foundation has allocated $50,000 to enhance the clinic's food assistance program and allow it to reach even more people. The grant will also allow the clinic to offer nutritional education workshops for adults and children.

In addition to providing health services to low-income families, the Metro Health Community Clinic serves as emergency food bank that provides food to people who otherwise may have had to decide between paying for health care or buying food. The clinic's food pantry is sensitive to those with restrictive diets, such as diabetes, gluten intolerance or low-sodium requirements.

The grant was presented to Metro Health Hospital Foundation for the Community Clinic food bank during a check presentation ceremony held today at the clinic. Before the ceremony, local Walmart managers toured the facility and learned about the services it provides.

"The Walmart Foundation is very pleased to be supporting Metro Health's Community Clinic and is committed to helping those in need in the communities where we serve," said Joe Woods, market manager at Walmart. "Through this grant, we are hopeful that residents in West Michigan will have greater access to the proper nutrition they need."

The contribution to Metro Health Hospital Foundation was made possible through the Walmart Foundation's Michigan State Giving Program. Through this program, the Walmart Foundation supports organizations that create opportunities so people can live better. The Walmart Foundation State Giving Program strives to award grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the United States.

To be considered for support, perspective 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 http://www.walmartfoundation.org/stategiving.

Metro Health Community Clinic specializes in providing assistance to under-served communities in Grand Rapids. They can offer service in 26 languages to people and families with little-to-no insurance, many of whom are part of the area's growing refugee population. The clinic provides medical help, food assistance and an at-risk mother's program. After they address an emergency situation, they provide patients with resources for long-term help, including career services.

About Metro Health Hospital
Metro Health Hospital is a 208-bed general acute-care osteopathic teaching hospital that serves more than 250,000 patients in Kent and surrounding counties. Metro Health, which earned status as a Top 100 Hospital for the three consecutive years, offers a broad range of services, including inpatient and outpatient services, emergency, surgery, intensive care, rehabilitation, wellness and community education. Metro's work is supported by the Metro Health Hospital Foundation, which is a charitable organization dedicated to improving the health and well being of the West Michigan community through philanthropy. For more information, visit http://www.metrohealth.net.

About Metro Health Hospital Foundation
The Metro Health Hospital Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of West Michigan through its support of Metro Health, an award-winning leader in community healthcare. The Foundation funds a wide variety of programs and services, such as buying books for the Cancer Center's library, providing special computers for ventilator-dependent patients, supporting the popular Metro Health Farm Market and providing diapers, car seats and other baby supplies for low-income families. The Foundation's support of Metro Health allows individuals, employees, organizations and businesses to contribute funds that help families cope with catastrophic illnesses, provide life-saving education and screenings and improve overall patient care. For more information, visit http://www.metrohealth.net/foundation.

About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support initiatives that are helping people live better around the globe. In May 2010, Walmart and its Foundation made a historic pledge of $2 billion through 2015 to fight hunger in the U.S. The Walmart Foundation also supports education, workforce development, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness initiatives. To learn more, visit http://www.walmartfoundation.org.

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