Ep. 10 - Saving Meals: Walmart’s Local Fight Against Hunger

Hunger is not abstract where we live; it shows up in Arkansas families deciding between groceries and gas. We sat down with Kayla Burton and Rachel Spencer from Walmart to unpack how a massive retailer can still act like a neighbor, channeling national scale into local impact. The heart of our talk is proximity, keeping dollars, food, and decision-making close to the people who need them most.

We break down Fight Hunger. Spark Change. Walmart’s long-running partnership with Feeding America that turns everyday shopping into real meals. You’ll hear how a checkout prompt, an online gift, or a box of cereal marked as a participating item can route funds straight to your local food bank. Suppliers play a pivotal role by labeling pantry staples that unlock donations, making it easy for shoppers to support hunger relief without changing their routine.

Beyond fundraising, we dig into the logistics that truly determine whether fresh food reaches tables. Food banks function like regional distribution centers for thousands of pantries and meal sites, and Walmart associates are the hands that pull, sort, and ship still-good food every day. We talk numbers, hundreds of millions of pounds donated annually, and why infrastructure matters: refrigerators, freezers, shelving, and simple tech upgrades that cut waste and speed up delivery. You’ll also hear about pilots that repurpose retail platforms so food banks can notify stores they’re en route, plus the growing role of mobile pantries and the future promise of same-day delivery for access.

What keeps us hopeful is the culture of giving and the willingness to face hard data together. Community leaders, associates, suppliers, and nonprofits are aligning around bold but practical moves; capacity grants, smarter routes, local governance, and year-round collaboration. If you care about food access, you’ll come away with a clear picture of what works now and what could scale next.

If this conversation moves you, share it with a friend, subscribe to Youth Unmuted, and leave a review with one idea you think would improve food access where you live.

Transcript

Welcome And Guest Intros

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome back everyone. My name is Holden and I am your host for the Youth Unmuted Podcast. This is a team-led podcast with the Boys and Girls Club of Benton County where we share unique stories that relate to today's youth. Let's get started. Welcome back everyone to Youth Unmuted. I am so excited to talk about my passion for food insecurity with my friends from Walmart, Kayla and Rachel. Today we get to hear about Walmart's role in addressing food insecurity, not just as a retailer, but as a community partner, philanthropic leader, and convener of collective action. Let's get started. Welcome, guys.

SPEAKER_02 0:35

Okay, thanks for having us.

SPEAKER_00 0:37

Yeah, absolutely. So if you each just um wanted like tell us your names and then maybe one interesting fact about you guys before we get started.

SPEAKER_02 0:44

Rachel, you go. Okay. Hi, I'm Rachel Spencer and I've worked for Homer for almost six years. But my interesting fact is I used to study termite genetics.

SPEAKER_01 0:57

Oh, that is interesting. It is mine is not around genetics, but my name is Kayla Burton. I've almost been I've been with Walmart almost two years. My interesting fact would be I uh ran a 50k. That is not a common thing that people do, and uh so that is that is my one fun fact about me. Kayla can also do pull-ups, just so we know.

SPEAKER_00 1:23

Kayla is fit, yes. All right, how how many miles is a 50k?

SPEAKER_01 1:29

I still don't know to this day. When I was at mile 30 and I was on the trail because it was a trail race, I asked one of the race organizers like, how much more do we have to go? And they're like, it doesn't matter. Just I think it's around 32, uh 33 miles.

SPEAKER_00 1:45

That's insane.

SPEAKER_01 1:46

It took all day. I mean, there's only one way out, yeah. And it was, and I think on the like a bill, if I were to do a street race for a 50k, it probably wouldn't take as long, but trail running takes significantly longer. And so that was that was that's my thing. That's my glory. My glory.

SPEAKER_00 2:07

Well, props to you because there is no way I could do that. I'm in track right now, and anything over 400, I'm like, yeah, yeah. No, no, let's let the distance people do that one.

SPEAKER_01 2:17

Never say never. I didn't think I would be into running, and then here I am as an adult trying to act like I have knees of a teenager.

Why Local Focus Matters

SPEAKER_00 2:26

No, yes, ma'am. I get all right. So let's go get started with the first question, and that is why does Walmart focus on local communities when it comes to fighting hunger? And how does the company think about its role in improving access to food?

SPEAKER_02 2:41

I can start, and then Kayla would love for you to add. Um, I think we focus on local communities because that's where we are. And this is so core to our mission of save money and live better. When Sam Walton founded Walmart, he did it fundamentally so people in rural America could have access to higher quality products at a more competitive price point and live better lives by having more money in their pocket. So that is still so much part of the DNA of our company. And we focus on food security a lot because it's a huge problem in the US. We also focus on it globally because it's a challenge that unfortunately exists everywhere. Um, and we are, as the largest grocer, it's something that it just makes sense for our business. And they we tend to invest philanthropically, uh, which means like through grant making to nonprofits, um, we tend to invest in things that are close to our business too. So things that are relevant for what we do every day.

SPEAKER_00 3:41

Now I love that.

SPEAKER_01 3:44

Yeah, and I will add on me, you have that piece, and then of course, you know, with it being so close to home, it's in our local communities, we see it impact even our our own customer base. And so we want to continue to take care of each other. Uh as Rachel mentioned, save might live better bring true in a lot of ways. When we continue to show up for our local communities and do good in our communities and power a lot of our organization also take care of our communities, it kind of goes back to our shared value on the board. Uh, we have a lot of folks who agree that you know, this is an issue. It's not just like uh this is an issue, it's happening in our own neighborhoods. And so being able to show up and take care of our health, I mean, is it a a pretty big significant priority? And as you mentioned, with us being a lot of broacher, we have an opportunity to make a higher.

SPEAKER_00 4:37

Yeah, that's awesome. I love to see that you guys are really kind of taking initiative, especially with the success that has come from Walmart. I know specifically in our area, um, Arkansas, like as of February, just became like a report came out that they we are the most food insecure state, and nearly 29%, so almost 30% of families and um people that we know, like loved ones that we care about in our community, struggle with that issue. So that's amazing that you guys are taking that initiative.

SPEAKER_02 5:05

And that's actually been for the past couple of years, too. Like that study, I think, had the highest rates that we've seen, but unfortunately, like that that's been a persistent issue here over time, too. So we can talk more about Arkansas specifically later if we want. But yeah, that's pretty shocking, isn't it?

Arkansas’ Food Insecurity Reality

SPEAKER_00 5:25

Yeah, no, for sure. And we can definitely come back to that. Um, but I want to talk about something that uh you mentioned, Rachel, and that was the Fight Hunger Spark Change campaign. Um, so that's really became a signature campaign for Walmart. So, what makes this campaign so powerful?

Inside Fight Hunger Spark Change

SPEAKER_01 5:42

Yeah, so one of the campaign reasons why this campaign is so powerful is one of the big components that fits into our overall hunger portfolio when we think about how Walmart takes care of their local communities. And so Guy Hunger Spark Change in partnership with Feeding America and their local food banks started over a decade ago. And, you know, one of the great things about this campaign that makes it pretty powerful is the simplicity and the scale of the campaign. And we've made it easy to where it's seamlessly embedded into how shoppers people folks shop every day. There are three ways that customers could participate: that's purchasing an item that unlocks the donation, is being able to make a donation at the registers and online, and then you being able to donate directly to Feeding America. The other part of this is that it also we've opened it to where suppliers can come in and also join us to fight hunger as well. And so when I say that there's a participating item, we invite a um suppliers across our food categories on Walmart and Stance Club side where they can select everyday pantry items to be a part of the campaign. So when you purchase a box of Cheerios, that could potentially unlock a donation and go back to your food bank. So it's a very frictionless campaign, allows folks to continue to make a difference in their everyday purchases during that time frame. And also all dollars stay local. So that's the great thing about this. We make sure we have that upfront in our messaging. When a customer goes and they see the donation prompt at their register, they can see that it will go be routed to their local food bank as well. So it is a great cafe because it allows everybody to engage in their own way and make their own pay their own their significant impact as well. Crazy.

SPEAKER_00 7:33

Yeah, that's great. And I really love that it is that dollar goes back and stays in that local community. So you really know that you are making a difference, especially to the community that you care about and have been impacted by. So that's awesome. Um, you mentioned the suppliers. Um, do they, when you um tell them about this initiative, do you see that a lot of them do like jump onto this opportunity and want to be involved in making the difference that Walmart is taking initially?

SPEAKER_01 7:58

Yeah, we see a great excitement and energy from them when we invite them to join us for the campaign. Um, even more so this year, we are also doing a kickoff together. So we're doing a huge volunteerism event at our local food bank alongside of our participating suppliers because there is that eagerness to lean in and come together to help support our local communities, especially for this cause. And so I am always happy to touch, have these switch points with our suppliers and hear their thoughts and how they will like to continue to make the difference. And sometimes you may see those suppliers uh carry out that cause in their own way, post-campaign as well. So that's energy continues throughout the year, and it is great for when they are invited to come together with us to continue to fight hunger.

SPEAKER_00 8:49

Yeah, of course, that's great. It's really just kind of gives a hopeful look for our future, you know, and you really get to see that there is so much good going on when there is a lot of uncertainty. Um, so like I mentioned, staying local. Why is that so important that those donations stay in local communities?

SPEAKER_01 9:06

Yeah, it resonates well with our base for sure. I think that is one of the things we want customers to know that the dollar, the impact that they're making, the dollar that they're giving is truly taking care of their local communities. Um, is one of the ways that we want to continue that trust, building that trust with our customers and our members as well. Um, and then too, you know, again, it is not only is it a matter of that, but also it really are kind of going back to the first question about showing up for those local communities, making sure that we're living towards our motto of save money, live better, um, and making sure that those communities are fully supported through and through, even when we do have a campaign that is uh at scale like this.

Suppliers Join The Cause

SPEAKER_02 9:52

And I'll add that I think it's important just because they need it. There's 200 food banks across the country, and there's over 60,000, what we call local agency partners. So the food bank, if you think about it, you know, before we started recording Holden, we were talking about, you know, business and you know, part of that is thinking about like the logistics and how food really moves at a big scale throughout this country. And if you think about a food bank, they're almost like a distribution center or a warehouse. But then they're also like a spinal cord of this system that is supporting people to get food when they need it most at a very local level, too. So you've got organizations that you would think of as soup kitchens or church food pantries that are all supported by their local food banks. And so when we're able to get funds as close as we can to those local organizations, it can really branch out throughout that full network and they could buy things that they need, um, whether that's food itself, whether that's investments in programming, they have to pay staff. Um, we have also invested very heavily in infrastructure and helping that network modernize the way that they move food around. So I think that's also just pretty fundamental to it is that you know we were talking about how big of a mean food insecurity is. And it's it's something we could all be pitching in on and working towards together.

SPEAKER_00 11:19

No, yeah, that's great. And it really sounds like Walmart is like using all of the resources that they have like accumulated and earned just to be able to give back and shows that you know, not only are they impacting this on like this global scale, this national large corporation, but they're really using their community ties and partners to make a difference. So that's that's super for great. Um, next question I have is can you guys give examples of how Walmart stores, clubs, or maybe even associates um have really supported the relief efforts at local level for food insecurity?

Why Donations Stay Local

SPEAKER_02 11:52

Yeah. Yeah. Or all one thing we do, I would say all year round, because we just talked about the campaign, but um, we are always all of our facilities, clubs, and distribution centers donate food to Feeding America food banks when we aren't able to sell it in store. So it's still product that is good that can go to feed someone. We just haven't been able to sell it before it's gonna go bad. And so we get it while it's still good to the Feeding America Network and those organizations that I mentioned. And our associates are a critical part of making that happen because they are the ones literally pulling the food and building the boxes for food donations in stores. Um, and so that is a huge part of what we contribute. I was actually I was looking up some things before this call. So um, I mean, we've over time, like since 2001, we've donated over 9 billion pounds of food to Feeding America. Um, globally, so not just in the US, but globally last year uh we donated 855 million pounds, which is the equivalent of eight or nine aircraft carriers of food. So just last year, all across the country. So I that's also just an example of how this can happen at scale. And particularly in the US, the majority of that food tends to be fresh product too, which is healthier as well.

unknown 13:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:17

I was gonna add on. So, like while we do have these great initiatives through our food donation program and fight hungers for change, we do have a series of programs under our Spark Good umbrella that empowers nonprofits to activate on their own in local communities using Roundup, Registry, volunteerism, and our associates are also to able to engage in that as well. So even if maybe there's not a local food bank in their area, but there are other organizations that have food and security as a cause type, that unlocks the ability for associates and smaller nonprofits to activate um within the framework we built through our smart good programs and to also receive resources and show up for that cause as well.

SPEAKER_00 14:02

Yeah, I did not know that. That is that is a great way to kind of give back. And I like your statistics there, especially about the aircraft's kind of cool fun fact. And 855 million pounds is that's a lot of people you're feeding. A lot of families that you know don't have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. So really putting that into scale kind of shows how much you give back in that no food is really going to waste, especially at Walmart.

SPEAKER_02 14:26

Yeah, that's the goal.

unknown 14:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:28

Um, so how is Walmart thinking about the future of hunger relief and food insecurity?

Year-Round Food Donations

SPEAKER_02 14:35

I think a lot of it is what we started to talk about. You know, I mentioned the modernization piece with that network. Um, as a company, you know, we are people led but very tech powered. And I think there's a lot that we can take from what we've learned through our business and really help some of our partners think about technology and innovation and how that can just really make things work easier out in out in the world. Um, I mean, we do so many things on this, right? Like on our phones. Um, so one thing that we've done recently is we've tested one of our internal platforms to um that our suppliers use to tell stores that they are on their way to stock shelves because we've got some products where suppliers come in and do direct stocking. So we leverage that technology to test with Feeding America food banks to see that the food banks can actually let the stores know that they were on their way. Um and so that's an example of just a small innovation that we've had really good success with in the test and are evaluating what the next steps of it should be. I'll also share that last year um we invested$12.7 million to Feeding America, that they reinvested in food banks across the country to do what we call building retail agency capacity. And what that term really means is investing in local organizations to come get that donated food and in an easier and smoother fashion. So uh a lot of organizations they they need infrastructure still, like they need refrigerators, freezers, shelving, they need iPads, they need tech to do some of those cool things that we just mentioned, testing. And so I think the the future is some of like that is low-hanging fruit. It's it's but it's also very hard work. Um, these organizations are often really reliant on volunteers. Um, there's a lot of talented people working really hard. And so we're working to advance that. And then I think as we get deeper into that, it gives us an opportunity to think even bigger about what solutions could be more upstream as well.

SPEAKER_00 16:53

Yeah, that's really cool, especially with kind of I really liked what you said about there's ways like people are gonna need the food, but there's also like they might not have the infrastructure to get those. And kind of one example that I have in my community is like we have a mobile pantry, so there might not be people that are able to necessarily go all the way to the food pantries, you know, maybe like transportation, gas, just things like that, especially if they're from that rural community. Uh so I live I live in a small town, but we have a a mobile pantry that comes by. And um, myself and some from the club, we've had the opportunity to go volunteer on that. Uh, and they still like they still provide fresh food and like plenty of food for families. And uh the the all the people got to do is drive or walk up and like we'll put it in their car or their trunk, whatever. So I think that's definitely a great solution. Um, that a lot of people, a multitude of people have used, especially because it might be like more beneficial, simplistic, but in the same way, you know, it's just another resource that um yeah is feeding America or our local food pantries are using to give back.

SPEAKER_02 18:00

Yeah, that's awesome. Um, and it's it's meeting people where they're at, right? Um, and we can do same-day delivery to over 93% of the country now. So, like, what could that mean for the future of food access?

Spark Good: Community Tools

SPEAKER_00 18:13

Yeah, absolutely. That's really cool. And that same day delivery, I love that, you know. Sometimes it's there that day. And so yeah, it's kind of cool just kind of seeing how like the future and like all of our advancements are really making an impact in our day-to-day lives, especially from like Walmart or other big corporations. And I'm sure that later on the road, like those are gonna be used in ways to give back. And I'm very optimistic for our future for sure. Let's see. Next question. Going back to the local impact and your associates, um, how do the associates play a role beyond volunteering and fundraising?

Tech And The Future Of Access

SPEAKER_01 18:54

So uh I uh I noted our smart good programs. So we have like the volunteerism is huge for sure when our associates engage in that. Um, and then the other impact that they make, you know, there's the fundraising, the volunteerism. Then there is in a field, our associates have the ability to allow nonprofits outside the front entrance of their store to engage shoppers. So it gives them, they have the ability to unlock the access or the need for nonprofits in that within the hunger cause type to engage with shoppers as they come in to talk about to them about their cause or raise additional funds on their own. Of course, we have our giving, so associates can give directly. Um, we have a registry, and then we also have she noted, food donation program that allows them to unlock those as well. And so through that, you have those Spark of programs alone. And then what's also amazing is that we've learned that there's so many associates that sit on the board for local food banks and pantries. Um, they're uh eager to have more of a strategic programmatic relationship with a lot of their local food banks as well. Um, there's a food bank in National Second Harvest Food Bank. We like to call on them all the time to collect their stories and highlight one of our market managers who sits on the board for that food bank to kind of just hear more about how they're coming together to activate and you know, host community events or where they may show up and provide a local grant dollars. Our facilities have the ability to provide those to organizations. And so through our Spark Good programs alone, allows associates to kind of choose the journey or how they want to strategically support nonprofits across the board, but also from a nonprofit standpoint, allows them to also engage in those same programs to have to continue to build those and strengthen those relationships with our associates throughout the US.

SPEAKER_00 20:51

Yeah, great. Sounds like the associates have really like maybe Walmart really cultivates a community where they can, you know, do more, especially and just kind of make their way and like really showing that they are also making impact, not only through Walmart, but you know, through themselves, you know, and really just being the change that is so needed. So that's awesome to hear.

SPEAKER_01 21:10

Very yeah, and we we strongly encourage, like we talk about localization all the time and showing up in local communities, showcasing the impact we make in that local space so that you know our associates are also shoppers too. So they want to make sure that we're showing up in the right ways and making a difference and being able to see that passion all the time is so great.

SPEAKER_02 21:32

Yeah, and things work better when people know each other, like when you have that trust and you can say, like, well, hey, like this went wrong. Like whether we're talking about food donations or store reservation space, like when you have someone you can actually just have a conversation with. I think that's true, you know, across any topic area. And in so many communities, these are the folks that you know were going to church together, they're in PTAs together, like that, you know, we're neighbors. So it's just the Local piece makes sense.

SPEAKER_00 22:01

Yeah, of course. That local that localization, like you said, it really makes you want to give back, but also like you get to see the direct impact in the first hand change that is being especially when you're getting involved in volunteering. Yeah. Uh I know we've talked uh kind of a lot about like what this answer could be. Um, what what gives you guys optimism about the progress that is possible when it comes to ending hungry?

SPEAKER_02 22:27

It's a tough one.

Meeting People Where They Are

SPEAKER_01 22:27

I would say it is a tough one. I think what continues the hope for me to be optimistic about it is seeing our local communities come together for this cause. Even, you know, if we think about the past year and how we all came together to think through how can we continue to support our communities more beyond fight hunger smart change, and how can we, you know, we put on a beating communities together campaign in our uh stores during the holiday season last year and saw a great turnout for that. And so we know that, you know, we have a very generous customer shopper base. Our shoppers love to give back continuously year over year. Our merchants understand the cost, they know the importance of it. They're thinking strategically about how they can continue to make an impact and um make a difference. So knowing that it is always top of mind, and there is always a desire to figure out how we can continue to plus up our impact in this space year over year, or even how sociates can continue to make up a difference, that gives me hope on the progress that we're making. Of course, there are complexities along the way, especially when you're thinking about the infrastructure and how can, you know, our signature partner continue to mature their model for how they operate and make sure that accessibility is there for those that need it. But I think for me, seeing that we continue to have a strong giving culture across the board and that there is the constant desire and request to figure out how what else we can do or the challenge to do more, especially when um during the holiday season and especially during by hunger spark change.

The Power Of Associates

SPEAKER_02 24:15

And Arkansas, even though our stats in this space are so persistently challenging, that engagement with coming together with folks on our home state is what's going to give me hope about this. Because I think when you do get down to that local level, like we, for instance, at the Walmart Foundation have been working with the Arkansas Community Foundation to convene some conversations of food bank leaders, other hunger relief nonprofits, Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance. Um, there's so many folks that have been doing this work. And I think that when we see those numbers, right? And when we see what the data looks like, I have seen recently more of a willingness to say, we're gonna come to the table and figure out how to fix this because this is a reality that is something, something is not sticky. Like the the need keeps growing, the numbers are bad. Um, and like what are we not doing that, or what what part of the sector isn't yet involved in this conversation and needs to be? Where do we need to innovate in order to really make progress and change? And I think that when we can bring people together and have some of those tough conversations about what do we need to really do better and how can we support and resource that and where should it be? I think those are the conversations that they give me hope if we keep those up.

SPEAKER_00 25:44

Yeah, for sure. And sometimes those tough conversations are necessary, especially to see the true change that you want. But I think it all kind of relates to like that localization and that local impact. Like, do you there are going to be community members that have seen like what change can be made and what positive impact can happen, you know, if people stick together. And I think that is something that is so beneficial that Walmart is able to help cultivate.

SPEAKER_02 26:09

And so honestly, it's it's you too, Holden. Like you're you you've been giving making a difference in I because like you want to talk to us about this, yeah, and like you have such good energy around it. So, like that is death that should be mentioned as well for your listeners.

Collaboration And Hard Conversations

SPEAKER_00 26:24

Yeah, yeah. Well, I appreciate that. And for me, it has always just been the Boys and Girls Club has been, you know, like my spotlight, my anchor. There's so much good that I have received from the Boys and Girls Club in so many opportunities, like this podcast and like being able to talk to you guys. And because the club is a nonprofit and there is so much that we are given, so much that I'm given, is because of the community. Like for me, it's just like no doubt. Like, I want to be able to give back and I want to be able to use the passion that I have to do that. And there's so many other club members and club staff that want to do the same thing, and I think that's what makes it such an awesome full circle moment is that like the community does stuff for us. So, like, of course, we're gonna like do stuff for them. Like the community is ultimately the reason that I'm here today. So, speaking out of food insecurity, having this podcast, speaking in front of a group of shareholders or community members, community members, or board of directors, it's all so important because ultimately it it comes back to me and it comes back to my family and the people that you know need the support and need the advocation so that they don't have to rely um on something that may be unreliable. So, yeah. Yeah, well, uh thank you guys for um speaking that out and just ultimately coming here today. Uh, that is all the time we do have for our first part. Um, so a big shout out to you, Kayla and Rachel uh for joining us. And for everyone listening, please make sure to tune in for part two where we get to explore more of Walmart's commitment to fighting food insecurity in local communities. Thank you all for tuning in. Again, I am Holden, your host. Please like this video and subscribe to Youth Unmuted wherever you get your podcast. Until next time, peace.