Walmart issues $106K grant to Ozarks Food Harvest

The philanthropic arm of Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) issued a challenge to Ozarks Food Harvest’s partner agencies.

Through a $106,250 grant from the Walmart Foundation, Ozarks Food Harvest will serve as the distributor of funds to 49 food pantries and 37 feeding sites, if they raise matching funds. The organizations have until Feb. 28 to do so, according to a news release.

“Each year presents a wonderful opportunity for our member agencies to obtain nutritious food with these grant dollars,” said Bart Brown, president and CEO of Ozarks Food Harvest, in the release. “This is the ninth year that we have participated, and we are so thankful for Walmart’s generosity that allows our agencies to feed more children, families and seniors in need.”

Through Walmart grants, Ozarks Food Harvest has awarded nearly $1 million in funding to its regional food partners since 2010. The Springfield nonprofit provided $164,186 in grants during its latest fiscal year, according to the release.

The funds from Walmart are part of plans by the Bentonville, Arkansas, supermarket chain operator’s initiative to provide 4 billion meals by 2020.