Walmart's 12 Days of Giving

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walmart for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
 

Is there a nonprofit in your community that could use some help?   Be sure to visit Walmart's 12 Days of Giving page on Facebook and nominate them by November 18th, and they could be one of many to receive a portion of the $1.5 million in grants that Walmart is giving away this holiday season.

Simply visit the Walmart Facebook page to get started.  Click the 'Nominate Now" button and fill in the information - nonprofit name, contact info, web page, and an optional photo.  Then, in 200 words or less, tell Walmart how this nonprofit organization benefits your community and makes a difference in people's lives.  On December 10, Walmart will start the “12 Days of Giving,” by announcing funding to the winning nonprofits.

I don't really know of a local  nonprofit that I'd like to nominate, though I'm sure that there are some quietly doing good work that really could use some help.  I have a soft spot in my heart for our local Friends of the Library organization, because they do so much for our local library, and that really does do a lot for our community.  However, when I read through the categories in the drop-down under "What does this nonprofit do your community?" - Fighting Hunger, Communities Impacted by Disaster, Infants/Babies/Children, Warm Weather Clothing, Shelters, Veterans and Military Family Assistance, Senior Care, Women, and Other - I wonder if what they're doing is important enough.  Organizations serving in some of these categories can really make a difference in people's lives.
 
Is there a local nonprofit you're going to nominate?  Be sure to do it by November 18th!  Then come back and tell me about the difference they're making in your community.  I'd love to hear it!

Fight Hunger Together with Walmart

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Walmart Foundation for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
 

More than 50 Million Americans don't know where their next meal is coming from.  Shocking, isn't it?  In this land of plenty, people are going hungry.  People seem to think of and remember to donate to their local food banks when there's a big drive or around Christmas time, but people need food year 'round, and Springtime has traditionally brought a decrease in donations.
 
To help bridge this gap, Walmart has teamed up with Feeding America and four of the most recognizable food brands in America- ConAgra, General Mills, Kraft and Kellogg's - in a nationwide Fighting Hunger Together initiative from Monday, April 9 through April 30.   And you can help!
 
Between April 9 and April 30, Walmart will host a Facebook campaign.  They'll list 200 American communities with the highest unemployment rate, as determined by a Department of Labor Report (because one of the principal causes of hunger is unemployment).  Fans will be able to vote and rally support for their favorite communities.  Walmart will donate $2 million to the 21 communities receiving the most support -  $1 million to the winner and $50,000 each to the 20 runners-up.  I read through the list of communities, and I know people in several of those areas - Salem, OR and Lansing and East Lansing, MI to name a couple.  I'm not sure if you can vote just once or every day during the campaign, but I'll be sure to find out and vote for one of those communities - or both.  Be sure to check it out and Vote to fight spring hunger with Walmart too - and spread the word to get all your friends voting. Winning communities will be announced May 1st.
 
Besides voting on facebook, you can help out by going in to your local Walmart between April 9 and April 30.  Look for the in-store signage and purchase select products from ConAgra, General Mills, Kraft and Kellogg's.  By purchasing these products, you'll be helping to donate meals to Feeding America or Action for Healthy Kids, a nonprofit fighting childhood hunger.
 
Who's ready to fight hunger together with Walmart?
 

Wal-Mart Tries Out A New Wage In Mexico: $0 An Hour

On the day my kids start working at the State Fair where they will be making $8/hour, I read this article about teenagers in Mexico working for $0/hour. I can't imagine my kids going for that!

I suppose the possibility of tips is better than nothing. The article seems to say that Walmart has the money to actually pay these kids, so it's wrong for them to go along with the generally accepted practice. However, I'm personally wondering if that would be wise. Other businesses in Mexico cannot afford to pay the kids. All the teenagers would want to work at Walmart and none of them at any other businesses. I think it could cause more problems instead of helping.

The article: Thousands of adolescents work as unpaid baggers in Wal-Mart’s Mexican stores. The retail giant isn’t breaking any laws—but that doesn’t mean the government is happy with the practice.

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