Special to the Journal 

Club sending team, donation to support local organization’s efforts

 A team of 15 associates from the Albany Sam’s Club will help the staff and volunteers at the Second Harvest Food Bank pack boxes with donated food on June 1. In addition, Sam’s Club will present the organization with a check at the end of the event, to support its ongoing efforts to serve 700 member organizations in 30 counties across Georgia.

Albany Sam’s Club donated canned goods and non-perishable food items to Second Harvest Food Bank three times each week in recent years. The club donated more than 144,000 pounds of food to the organization in 2012.

The Albany Sam’s Club is more than just a shopping option for residents and small business owners; it’s a part of the local community. The club has made supporting the Second Harvest Food Bank through donations and volunteerism a priority since the Food Bank distributes an average of 14 million pounds of food annually to member organizations.

“Our club’s theme this year is, ‘being involved and being all in,’” said membership manager Bertha Stokes. “We’ve been donating to Second Harvest Food Bank for a while, but we want to take it up a level.”

The Albany Sam’s Club has leveraged parent company Walmart’s Volunteerism Always Pays (VAP) program to reach out to Second Harvest Food Bank. Through VAP, the Walmart Foundation awards grants to eligible organizations where associates volunteer. In 2012 alone, Walmart and Sam’s Club associates volunteered more than 2.2 million hours and generated more than $18 million in local grants.

WHEN: Saturday, June 1, from 8:00 a.m. to noon

WHERE: Second Harvest Food Bank
2800 Philips Dr.
Albany, Ga. 31707