Ep. 11 - The Human Side of Retail: Walmart’s Heart in Local Communities

Food insecurity can feel like a problem that belongs to “someone else,” until you realize your community needs you and it needs you now. We’re back for part two with Kayla and Rachel from Walmart, and we get practical about how real hunger relief works on the ground, from your local food bank to the nationwide partnerships that help food reach families.

We talk about simple actions that actually add up: volunteering at a food pantry, showing up consistently, and using campaigns like Walmart's Fight Hunger. Spark Change to turn everyday shopping into support through participating items, register roundups, and online giving connected to Feeding America. We also share the side of corporate philanthropy that people don’t always see, including how much Walmart associates care and how unsold food donations help reduce food waste while supporting local hunger relief.

Then we zoom out to what happens when disaster hits. Kayla and Rachel explain how Walmart disaster relief can bring essentials into a community fast, including services set up in parking lots and partner support that helps people get through the first chaotic days. We also highlight Spark Good programs and grant paths that can help smaller nonprofits, plus volunteer options for introverts who want to contribute with skills like graphic design or application support. If you’ve ever wondered how to help with hunger in Arkansas or where to start with community volunteering, this conversation gives you a clear first step.

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Transcript

Welcome Back And Part Two

The Simplest Ways To Help

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 part two of our episode with Youth Unmuted. We are here with my friends, Kayla and Rachel from Walmart, and we are going to dive back in to our discussion about Walmart's role in addressing food insecurity and local communities. All right. So thank you guys so much for joining us again for part two. I'm very excited about being able to continue our continuing our conversation. So as we mentioned in part one, there's a lot of ways to get involved in a lot of ways that Walmart is doing it. But for our listeners who want to get involved, what's the simplest way that they can help fight uh hunger in their own communities?

SPEAKER_02 0:53

Volunteer with your local food bank or your local food pantry organization. And I would say going to your local food bank can be a great start because then they can help you figure out which organizations are closest to you if you don't already know. Um, and I think there's something just really special when, especially when the world feels so intermout insurmountable, like the challenges of the world feel really big and heavy sometimes. Um, going somewhere in person, like getting to know new people, showing up alongside others and building that community of, hey, we're making the small differences we can one step at a time. So I would say go volunteer.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

Yes. And I I echo that 100%. Please go volunteer. One thing I will say, please go do Fight Hunger Square Change this year starts April 6th and around the three. So as you think about, you know, fighting hunger, join us to fight hunger on starting April 6th by shopping at your local Walmart stores, purchase a participating item, donate at the register roundup, or you can donate online as well. Or directly to Feeding America. But this, you know, pivotal moment where you're almost there in April, you can start now by getting to know your local food bank or the pantry and ask them how they can help and show up. I know, of course, Arkansas Food Bank here loves volunteers. They love it when we have a lot of folks sign up. But, you know, I would say the biggest call to action, volunteer and purchase a participating item on April 6th through May 3rd to help us continue to fight hunger alongside our participating suppliers as well.

The Human Side Of Walmart

SPEAKER_00 2:41

Yeah, no doubt. Everyone listening, make sure to go shop at Walmart, donate uh what you can. Uh, I definitely say that volunteers are such a pivotal, pivotal piece in you know, fighting for food and security, hunger, and honestly, just like any issue that you're passionate about, there is so many people in this world, so many organizations, nonprofits that are reliant on those volunteers. So maybe if you've been feeling like you need to get out there in the world, like this is a great, a great starting point, a great calling point, you know, go to a food bank, go to uh Walmart, start your shopping April 3rd, uh, and just um really get able to be out there and you know make a difference in your community. All right. Next question I have is um what do you hope people take away from Walmart to work in this space?

SPEAKER_02 3:30

The thing I hope people take away is just how much our associates care. Um I think that's something that when I first started working for Walmart, I was blown away by just how many people work for the company across the country, across the globe that really care deeply about this issue. Um, we had some devastating ice storms recently that hit some parts of the country, especially in the south, that are not used to receiving that kind of weather. And so I had the privilege of being out in Oxford, Mississippi a couple of weeks ago with um store manager as a protection lean, just several colleagues that um make that the oldness store in in Oxford, Mississippi, that make that store work. And they were outside for hours and hours in 15 degree weather, 12 degree weather. It was cold. Um, and they were really just figuring out like, how do we show up for people? How do we make sure that the store is open? We had a parking lot activation set up where um Operation Barbecue, one of our partners, these really cool folks that do uh like they they do competitive barbecue in their spare time, and then they volunteer with a group called Operation Barbecue, and that group comes to some of our parking lots in disaster times and they feed thousands of people. And so that that was just so special to see. And I think that sometimes when you're working at a big company, you don't always get a chance for some people to put a human face on it and realize like there are a lot of smart people working here that really care a lot.

SPEAKER_01 5:10

Yeah, we the care for sure. And then I think overall, you know, I think a lot of people aren't aware of how much work we do from a philanthropic standpoint when they think of Walmart, I don't think they connect it to it, philanthropy. Um, and I that is a big aha moment, especially when people learn what I do here at the company and they're like, oh, I didn't know Walmart played such a huge role in this space. Um and even with being able to provide programs that empowers smaller nonprofits to be able to lean in and and re-maximize on the resources that they need to take care of their local communities, and vice versa for associates. So I think, you know, I'm grateful for this conversation because we get to talk about the difference that we're able to make every day, the difference that our associates get to make every day, and even how we come together with our shoppers as well and give them an opportunity to make a huge impact in our local community, also.

SPEAKER_00 6:09

Yeah, I love that. And philanthropic. I definitely said that wrong earlier. I think I said philanthropic, but we just pretend I did not say that.

SPEAKER_02 6:18

You're good. Yeah, yeah, you're good, you're good. Also, I will say bonus round for that question on me is I just wish everybody knew that we donated unsold food because I actually didn't know that before I started working at Walmart, that all of our stores, clubs, and distribution centers donate the food that they're not able to sell. Um, it's really cool. It takes a lot of work and a lot of people that are really passionate about it make it happen every single day. So I wish everybody knew that. I don't think I don't think we tell that story enough.

unknown 6:47

Yeah.

The Walmart Aisle Draft

SPEAKER_00 6:48

No, yeah, for sure. I did not know that. And before uh you guys mentioned it. So I think that is something that is super amazing. And I know I said that earlier, but it's just a great way to make sure that no food goes to waste, just like especially no food that comes to Walmart. And so that is um really heartwarming to see. And you know, it just shows that they really do care about their customers, their community members, and just taking that initiative. Um, so I know we have talked a lot about food insecurity and hunger, and it it can be heavy at times. So uh I want to take a step back. Uh, I want to get to play a little game that has to do with kind of Walmart, but also, you know, a little bit about food we're talking about and just other things in. Uh, so we're gonna be playing a game. Um, it is called the Walmart Isle Draft. And so what's gonna happen is the three of us are gonna take turns um in a snake aisle draft, uh a snake style draft. Uh, we're gonna take turns um going through and choosing uh different um what's the word I'm looking for? Like different um areas, aisles, different aisles in Walmart, and uh we are gonna choose one. So, like let's say I chose home decor, I would pick that for my team. Um, you guys will not be able to choose it anymore, and that'd spend like 20 seconds why I chose home decor. Uh, any questions?

SPEAKER_02 8:04

Kayla and I are definitely more for here for the halftime show with football. So I uh thank you for explaining that.

SPEAKER_01 8:10

You may want to go first so that it can make sure I'm doing this right.

SPEAKER_00 8:15

No, yeah, absolutely. I will go first. Um, bad news, I'll not be performing any halftime show. So um I hope the viewers do not expect that. But if you guys want to, you guys are totally for it. You got special talent, this would be the perfect place to show it.

SPEAKER_02 8:31

And no, it'd be you, it'd be you.

SPEAKER_00 8:33

No, all right. So, based off of what I have here, I'm gonna have to take the snacks. I'm taking the snacks out first. Um, I don't know, I'm just I am not a very healthy person, but that's okay. Uh, because there's also healthy snacks. But for me, the first thing that popped in mind was like goldfish, little Debbie's, stuff like that. Uh, I like to watch TV shows and movies or play video games, and I feel like I always need to be like eating something. I don't know why. It's probably not a good habit, but I don't know. I feel like I always have like a snack in my hand, so definitely gonna take the snack aisle first.

SPEAKER_02 9:12

It's a pretty good choice. It's a pretty good choice. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:16

Uh Rachel, you want to go next?

SPEAKER_02 9:18

Sure. Um, I'm gonna draft the fresh aisle. So I'm taking the produce section because I'm an apple a day kind of gal. So I'm I'm gonna need that for my like foundation and the team.

SPEAKER_00 9:34

No, yeah, for sure. Definitely more healthier than I am, it sounds like already. So good for you. I'll work.

SPEAKER_02 9:40

I used to build, I used to work on a school farm. What can I say? I used to grow grew vegetables. So no, that's cool.

SPEAKER_00 9:45

That's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 9:45

I love it. I'm going to take household essentials because we run through paper towels like crazy and toilet tissue like crazy and a lot of paper products. Um, I have a goal to have a better footprint in that space, but as of now, I feel like most of that gets goes towards all of our household needs, but also occasionally, and this may be more the home decor. I was like, sometimes I'll see a candle or something, and I'm like, that's that is an essential. And I need that.

SPEAKER_00 10:21

Yeah, it depends if if if it's a need, you got it.

SPEAKER_01 10:25

It is a need. So that is my way of justifying it as a household essentials. I I like to redefine that category time to time when I see a good product. But household essential, I feel like that is that is something that where I do a great job of taking care of the paper towel business.

SPEAKER_02 10:44

You say a little thank you in your head to that merchant or the layout person that put that there. You're like, thanks.

SPEAKER_00 10:50

All right, I like to hear it. So since we're doing snake style, you get to go ahead and go again, and then it'll bounce Rachel and me. So what would you pick next?

SPEAKER_01 10:59

I will pick probably bakery. I always love the the Fake Goods. Kid could kids love the cookies. I like to use that to incentivize healthier eating. So, you know, take a few big bites so you can get the cookie, or maybe you'll get that brownie. Um, and then sometimes it's just good to have a guilty pleasure in the home.

SPEAKER_00 11:26

Absolutely. Sounds like you've got the parenting trips and tricks for all aspects of it.

SPEAKER_01 11:30

Nick, I got some good negotiation skills with these kids.

SPEAKER_00 11:37

Rachel, go ahead.

SPEAKER_02 11:38

Okay, I'm sad that cable pick bakery because I'm all about that bread life for sure, too. Um, I'm gonna go with outdoor uh under the assumption that that includes the camping section, just because with my team, I feel like we gotta be prepared for anything. Um, I've been reading the Dungeon Crawler Carl books recently. I don't know if anybody's heard of those, but like you've you've got to have like your stock of things that like you never know when situations are gonna get hairy. You want to be able to respond and start a fire. I also like camping personally. So yeah, stick with me in the apocalypse. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:15

I mean, that's what it sounds like. You're you're preparing yourself for the worst, and you know, there's nothing wrong with that.

SPEAKER_02 12:20

Hope for the best, be prepared otherwise.

SPEAKER_00 12:23

Absolutely. Okay, I am gonna take the electronics next. Um I don't know. I use electronics a lot, you know. Uh got to use my computer at school all the time, air pods for calls and just like watching TV. Um PS5, I use my PS5 a lot to play video games, and then you got Apple Watches. There's so much, so many electronic speakers. So I feel like I don't know, I use them so much in my day-to-day life that for me it's almost like an essential. Um, obviously, my phone, something that I use probably a little too much, but yeah, that's for a different podcast, you know. We'll get to that later. Um, but I'm definitely gonna take the electronics next, and then that's two for all of us. So we'll go one more time. Um and let's see. I am gonna take oh, this is tough. This is tough. All right, it's gonna sound bad. I'm taking the frozen foods. Uh obviously, I like to eat. All right. Um, frozen foods though are so good when um my mom doesn't feel like making dinner, and I don't want to make dinner for myself. Uh and ice cream that counts.

SPEAKER_01 13:35

Frozen the frozen out. Yeah, oh yeah, I know.

SPEAKER_00 13:39

Yeah, ice cream. Um, I like those like Oreo ice cream bars. Those are fire.

SPEAKER_02 13:44

I don't know if you have you tried the cycles ones.

SPEAKER_00 13:47

Uh I'm allergic to peanut butter.

SPEAKER_02 13:49

Oh, don't don't know.

SPEAKER_00 13:50

Probably, probably not peanut. I mean, I'm gonna take your word for it that they're good.

SPEAKER_02 13:54

Yeah, yeah. Ice cream candy bars. Uh I'm I'm behind it for sure.

SPEAKER_00 13:59

Yeah, absolutely. So definitely taking that, you know, uh frozen pizza. There's just a lot, a lot of good stuff that's in the frozen food section. So uh that is gonna be my last pick.

SPEAKER_01 14:10

My next one, which one of us is next? I was gonna say I I'm gonna go seasonal because Halloween's we go big on Halloween and we go pretty big on Christmas. And so uh I have received feedback from my oldest son. I did not do a good job making my house spooky enough for the decor, so I've got to invest more money in decorations for Halloween. But we do a big trick-or-treating party and we go out into the neighborhood, so seasonal is is the one where I like to lean in a little bit more.

SPEAKER_00 14:42

Awesome. I love that. Rachel, go ahead.

SPEAKER_02 14:47

You know, I feel like I should pick pharmacy to be responsible, but I'm picking toys because nothing wrong with that. You go ahead. It sounds fun. And yeah, I have um I've got a toddler, and one of the cool things about being a parent is that you get to play with toys again. Yeah, it's it's pretty. There's there's some really good stuff in the Walmart toy aisle. So um we'll have we'll have it for what we need and for when we need to barter as we built the team.

SPEAKER_00 15:16

Yeah, awesome, perfect. Okay, that is the three. So if you guys remember the three, I picked snacks, frozen, and electronics. Kayla, do you have the three?

SPEAKER_01 15:26

I did household essentials, bakery, and seasonal.

SPEAKER_00 15:31

Hey, Rachel.

SPEAKER_02 15:32

And I picked fresh outdoor and toys.

SPEAKER_00 15:35

All right, perfect. So those are the ones that we drafted. Um, for everyone that is listening, I want you guys to let us know in the comments or however you can communicate with us which one, whoever you thought you did the best, me, Rachel, or Kayla. So please go ahead and let us know. Unless you're voting for Rachel and Kayla, then you can just do it in your head. There's no needed.

SPEAKER_01 15:55

Let me write down in the comments.

SPEAKER_00 15:57

All right. Well, that game was a lot of fun. I now know a little bit more about you, yes, and also that I have an addiction to food and electronics, but that's okay. We're gonna live with it.

SPEAKER_01 16:08

The perfect age to have that addiction. Yeah, you're gonna be leaning towards the pharmacy aisle as you get older.

SPEAKER_00 16:14

That's right. That's right. And no one drafted that one, so it's open. I'm taking it.

SPEAKER_02 16:19

Oh, yeah, there you go.

Disaster Relief And Spark Good

SPEAKER_00 16:20

Rachel, Rachel chose the toys instead, so and got the medicine. That's cool. So I want to jump back into our food insecurity uh topic. And you know, is there anything else that you guys feel that we haven't really covered so far in this podcast? Maybe it's about Walmart or hunger, or maybe just like something you get to do in your jobs that you just feel like we didn't get to cover in our first part or second part that maybe you want to go over.

SPEAKER_02 16:48

There. Uh I'll share because I have actually been supporting our disaster relief team more so recently. Um, so that's been a fun change for me because I used to lead our food insecurity work. Um, and now I've been thinking more about how our company shows up for communities in times of disaster. I think this is also something that people don't know Walmart does um really well. But and we're trying to think of how to do it even better and faster, bigger, better, better. Um, but like I mentioned earlier, you know, in when we have seen things like floods, hurricanes, um, we do this really cool thing where we set up services with different partners like Wi-Fi in our parking lots, showers, bathrooms, feeding. We also have um an incredible cook team of some of our Walmart drivers. They have a fleet cook trailer. Um, they are so passionate about feeding people when they need it. They did hold, and I think you'll like this. They told me recently that for breakfast, just for like the cook team themselves, when they're assembled, they will grill hot pockets. Which I've never heard of before, but I was like, that it sounds like it, I would eat it.

SPEAKER_00 18:00

I would I would definitely gonna have to try that out, you know. Grilled hot pocket. Yeah, are you guys pepperoni or ham and cheese?

SPEAKER_02 18:06

I would ham and cheese, I think. Ham and cheese, ham and cheese.

SPEAKER_00 18:09

Ham and cheese. What about you, Kayla?

SPEAKER_01 18:11

Uh been a minute, but pepperoni for sure.

SPEAKER_00 18:14

Okay, interesting. I think I'd have to I'd have to stick with the ham and cheese, but for breakfast too.

SPEAKER_02 18:19

But and I I digress, but um, our drivers are really, really cool. There's some of the associates I was talking about, like just awesome colleagues to have. But um, just yeah, I I think that that's something I wanted to share with folks too, is that you know we're really thinking about how do we be there for people in our communities, whatever they need it, even in this increasingly disrupted world that we live in.

SPEAKER_00 18:43

Yeah, Caitlin.

SPEAKER_01 18:45

Yeah, I think for sure, you know, the disaster space, it is a very, very significant um area of where we do want more, we would love for more people to know about all the work there. I think I'll circle back on the what I noted earlier about our Spark Good programs. We're continuing to talk more about that at scale because we want a lot of people to know that you don't have to be a signature partner to work with us or to lean in or receive the resources you need, but you can always go through our Spark Good programs, which is intended to empower all many nonprofits and associates and customers to make a difference in the local communities that you serve as well. And so I encourage everybody to Google Walmart, Smart Good Programs, um, because it is an amazing uh tool uh for a lot of our stakeholders to use so that they can continue to show up and you know maximize on those resources so that they can take continue to take care of their neighbors as well.

SPEAKER_02 19:50

I know we mentioned volunteering earlier, but Kayla just made me think when we were talking about Spark Good programs, like you know, organizations write local grants to our different stores. And I think when we say volunteer, sometimes that might be a little bit scary for someone that might be shy or a little more on the introverted side, but particularly since I bet this podcast reaches, you know, folks like you, like other young people hold in. Like, I just want folks to know that there's like a lot of different ways to volunteer with organizations. And even if you're not someone that is really outgoing, organizations need help with things like graphic designs. Like, can you use Canva? Can you help them write a grant application with Chat GPT? And like, do please read it before you submit it to anyone.

SPEAKER_01 20:37

Um, but opportunities are made to her point. Like, if you are an introvert and you still want to make a difference in the back end, they a lot of organizations have those opportunities.

SPEAKER_02 20:48

You just never know.

SPEAKER_01 20:49

Yeah.

Blessing Boxes And Final Thanks

SPEAKER_00 20:50

Yeah, those are both two great ways to end it. And I just kind of wanted to touch on food insecurity and kind of just my platforms for a second as we wrap up. Um, as you guys know, like food insecurity is so prevalent in our community, specifically in Arkansas. And one way that I think is a way to give back is through blessing boxes. And so if you guys don't know what that is, or just like the listeners, um, they are a lot of times at churches, you know, or at different clubs that we have in our community. Um, but they're just like a simple box, almost like a cabinet that you can just give what you can and take what you need, kind of just without having having to feel that anxiety or shame that some people have, that stigma that some people have with needing help, which I think is something that as advocates, you know, as volunteers, as people that want to give back, is something is a stigma that we need to break because there are so many people in this world, in our community, in the nation that, you know, need that help. And that's why we're here, that's why we're advocating for it. That's why there is the spark, change, fight, hunger um campaign and initiative. That's why there's so many different organizations working to give back. And so So just there's so many different ways to give back, like blessing boxes, like volunteering, whether that's in person or whether that is using Chat GPT or Canva to come up with the graphic design or a paper. So really just I I encourage everyone to find a way to volunteer and give back, especially if you know the community has done something for you, like the community has done so much for me and my Boys and Girls Club. I know I would not have the opportunities that I had today. The confidence, you know, the personal growth that I have is so much in part to the community and what they have done. And so I feel like being able to use my platform, hosting this podcast, allowing you guys to be here, talk more about food and security, educate those who may not know a lot about it, and honestly just kind of get to have those fun conversations, you know, get to share a little bit about the Boys and Girls Club or Walmart or whoever we have on the guests. It's just such a great way to give back and do something for the community. So uh thank you guys so much for coming on here and really supporting Eat and Media, but also just you know the people locally, nationally, globally. Like Walmart does so much for so many different people, and also the people within Walmart. Um, one, the Alice Weldon Foundation is actually um close to here, and I had the opportunity to speak at that foundation. They had an all-staff meeting, not it was two, it was like two weeks ago. Um kind of just speak about food insecurity and blessing boxes, and so I can see like firsthand how how um Walmart and like the founders and the associates, just all the way down to like people that work, you know, at a store to the highest person up in your company, like how much they want to make that change and exactly what they are doing to make that unnecessary. So a huge thank you to you guys, a huge thank you to the volunteers, um, and just everyone listening, you know, because that shows just you listening to this podcast shows that you want to be the change that you want to see in this world. Um, but yeah, that is all we have for today. Thank you guys so much for coming on and tuning in to part two of our episode and really getting to hear how Walmart fights hunger and really makes an impact in those local communities. And such a special thank you and shout out to Kayla and Rachel for taking time out of your busy schedules and coordinating with me to get this podcast set up. We're so grateful to have you guys. And I was so blessed to get to hear about all these amazing initiatives and opportunities that Walmart has.

SPEAKER_01 24:19

Yeah, thank you for having us. We're excited to talk to you and then we're thank you for the work you're doing. You're making a huge difference as well, not your peers. And so thank you for allowing us to share all the great work that we do and looking forward to see how you can see to make a difference as well.

SPEAKER_02 24:36

Definitely. It's been awesome meeting you, Holden. Great to speak with you. And we've we've got to stay in touch now. So go go, Hogs. Best of luck on your next chapter, too.

SPEAKER_00 24:46

Absolutely, I appreciate that. Thank you guys all for tuning in, and I'll see you next time. Bye. 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.