AROUND TOWN: Walmart gives donations, grants to community groups

Area Walmart stores celebrated a hearty year of community contributions, close to $400,000, with a Feb. 8 dinner at Cheyenne Mountain Resort.

Market Manager Gary Peacock announced that store in-kind and donations for 2012 totaled $175,575; Care and Share food donations of 1.7 million pounds included 190,000 pounds of water during the Waldo Canyon fire; local community grants of $99,000; Children’s Miracle Network, $72,029. There were also Teacher of the Year grants and Volunteerism Always Pays involvement.

Donations by Walmart stores:
Little Chapel Food Pantry, Woodland Park; Boots and Saddles Therapeutic Riding Center, Monument; Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care, Palmer Park; Kids on Bikes, 8th Street; Security Fire Department, Fountain; Greccio Housing, Woodmen; Teens with Promise, Platte; More Than a Meal, Razorback; Peyton Fire Protection District, Falcon; Life Without Lupus, Palmer Park; Teller County Search and Rescue, Woodland Park; Homeward Pikes Peak, Platte; Big Brothers Big Sisters, Fountain; The Dale House Project, Razorback; Christmas Unlimited, 8th Street; Rocky Mountain Field Institute, Woodmen.

Walmart State Giving Program:
Ecumenical Social Ministries; Urban Peak; Silver Key Senior Services; Christian Healing Network (Mission Medical Clinic); Care and Share Food Bank; Junior Achievement of Southern Colorado; Colorado Farm to Table.

Two Walmart programs were saluted: the Teacher Rewards Program that helps offset monies teachers spend out of pocket and Volunteerism Always Pays in which employees of the Walmart stores volunteer for various nonprofits and community groups.