We like to think "it won't happen to me", but last year 23,018 Canadians, including 399 residents of Saskatchewan, needed disaster assistance from the Canadian Red Cross. From a house fire that affects one family to a flood that suddenly forces a community to evacuate with few possessions, the impact of a disaster can be devastating. Red Cross is there to help - but we can't do it alone. That's why fundraisers like our annual Walmart campaign are so important.
Walmart Canada is gearing up for a cross-country campaign to raise much-needed funds for local Canadian Red Cross disaster response activities. The campaign will run in Walmart stores across the country from August 5 to 31, with an ambitious goal of $2.6 million.
"We are working closely with Walmart stores in, Estevan, Kindersley, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, Swift Current, Weyburn and Yorkton to raise awareness and funds", says Amanda Ulrich, Public Affairs & Marketing Provincial Lead for Red Cross in Saskatchewan. "We're very excited to work with Walmart during this annual fundraising campaign, and we know that Walmart shoppers will get behind Canadian Red Cross."
Supporting Red Cross is easy. At the Walmart checkout, the Walmart associate will give customers the opportunity to make a donation to support the work of Canadian Red Cross in their community. With the donation, customers have the option to post a Red Cross card to the wall, with their first name on it.
Walmart Canada operates a growing network of 320 outlets nationwide, serving more than one million Canadians daily. With 80,000 associates, the company is Canada's fourth largest employer. Walmart Canada has one of the of the largest and strongest community involvement programs in Canada. In 2009, the company raised and donated $20 million or $384,000 weekly, to support more than one thousand charities and organizations in need.
