Bristol Good Neighbors Receives $30,000 Grant from the Walmart Foundation

(Bristol, RI) –  January 14, 2014 – Bristol Good Neighbors, Inc. recently received a $30,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation. The grant was awarded as part of the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program.

Bristol Good Neighbors is a non-profit service organization which includes a soup kitchen, day shelter, food pantry and resource center, and has been serving the underserved of the East Bay and greater Providence and Newport areas for 23 years.  Founded in 1990 as a small soup kitchen serving lunch five days a week, we have since expanded to include daily breakfast and lunch for up to 50 clients per day.  We later added a food pantry, distributing groceries to over 300 local families.  Our mission statement, “To provide nourishing, tasty and attractive meals, provide free clothing and hygiene products from donations, provide a comfortable setting where companionship can be fostered and provide opportunities to encourage a spirit of good will in a warm, pleasant environment ”, is truly our goal in serving our clients—to create a safe and welcoming place where their needs are met in an holistic manner, where both families and the homeless may find a friendly refuge and the assistance they need to better their lives in both small and great ways.

“This generous grant provided by the Walmart Foundation will allow our organization to provide hundreds of clients per month with healthy, nutritious foods in both our food pantry and soup kitchen, which is the cornerstone of our purpose,” said Ann Wiard, Executive Director of Bristol Good Neighbors. “This grant comes at a crucial time for us in our capacity as providers of basic needs to the community, and we are extremely grateful for the support of the Walmart Foundation in our efforts to continue to meet the needs of our local families.”

“We are proud to be able to support Bristol Good Neighbors, Inc.”, said Chris Buchanan, Walmart Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations. “We are committed to fighting hunger in each of our communities, and programs like this one are vital to provide nutritious food at the local level.”

The Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program supports organizations that create opportunities so people can live better, awarding grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S.

To be considered for support, perspective grantee organizations must submit applications through the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program’s online grant application.  Applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in order to meet the program’s minimum eligibility criteria.  Additional information about the program’s funding guidelines and application process are available online at www.walmartfoundation.org/stategiving.

About Philanthropy at Walmart

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to helping people live better through philanthropic efforts. By operating globally and giving back locally, Walmart is uniquely positioned to address the needs of the communities it serves and make a significant social impact within its core areas of giving: Hunger Relief and Nutrition, Sustainability, Career Opportunity and Women’s Economic Empowerment. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are leading the fight against hunger in the United States with a $2 billion commitment through 2015. Walmart has donated more than one billion meals to those in need across the country. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit foundation.walmart.com.