Wal-Mart asks public to help ‘Stuff a Semi' with food

By JOSEPH DITS Tribune Staff Writer

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Wal-Mart asks public to help ‘Stuff a Semi' with food

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By WSBT 24/7 News

Story Created: Jun 3, 2009 at 11:28 PM EST

Story Updated: Jun 4, 2009 at 6:55 AM EST

SOUTH BEND — Wal-Mart shifted into a generous mode this year with food banks across the nation, offering items from its bread, produce, dairy and other departments.

Locally, it meant that the Food Bank of Northern Indiana had to acquire another truck just to pick up the goods from area Wal-Mart stores three times a week.

In the past three months, the food bank has rounded up 121,032 pounds of food from 11 stores stretching from Warsaw to LaPorte.

Now Wal-Mart is welcoming the public to fill semi-trailers with food donations.

Leaders from Wal-Mart and the food bank touted the donations Wednesday. They balanced it by talking about the gnawing demand for food, which is two to 10 times greater than last year, said Jon Williams, resource development coordinator.

“You can’t keep up that kind of outflow unless you have the inflow,” he said.

The food bank serves more than 200 agencies in six counties.

  • The “Stuff a Semi” food drive will be June 18-20 at the Wal-Mart stores in South Bend, Mishawaka, Elkhart, Goshen, LaPorte and Plymouth.

    Most needed are canned fruits and vegetables, boxed food items like rice or potatoes, canned meat items like beef stew, baby diapers and toiletries.

    It’s all part of Wal-Mart’s national effort, working with the food bank network Feeding America. The company has committed to donating 90 million pounds nationally.

    Staff writer Joseph Dits:
    jdits@sbtinfo.com
    (574) 235-6158

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