Wal-Mart donates $100,000 to Food Bank of Alaska

ANCHROAGE, Alaska — The Food Bank of Alaska is getting big help from the world's largest retailer.

The Wal-Mart Foundation gave the Food Bank $100,000 Monday as part of its Associate Choice Program, where Wal-Mart associates vote for a non-profit to receive money in their state.

During the six-week program, Wal-Mart Foundation donated $5 million. More than $3 million went to programs to reduce or eliminate hunger.

The Food Bank says the donation helps, but it still needs help to reach its goal.

“This is a huge gift to us. We've never had such a large amount of funds dedicated solely to the purchase of food, so for us, I'm almost staggered at the possibility of the kinds of foods we can get,” said Susannah Morgan, executive director of Food Bank of Alaska.

The Food Bank says more than 74,000 Alaskans count on it for food assistance, especially during the winter months.