At the Walmart Foundation, we feel very fortunate to be able to provide financial support to nonprofit groups. However, as the holidays draw near, and we look for opportunities to help make a personal mark in our own community, we wanted to remind everyone that there is a great way for you to help a local nonprofit even if your checking account doesn't allow you to write a check—that is giving your time and talent to help! At Walmart, we encourage our associates to volunteer with charitable organizations that matter to their families and their communities. In fact, we offer the Volunteerism Always Pays (VAP) program that encourages, and recognizes associates that get involved, by making charitable contributions to organizations on their behalf for the time they spend at the organization as a volunteer. Through VAP, Walmart associates have volunteered more than eight million hours since 1995 and the company has provided millions of dollars per year to nonprofits as a result of this associate volunteerism.
This holiday, I’d encourage you to consider how you can help by volunteering your time. I’m sure you’ll benefit greatly by volunteering whether it’s helping a local food bank, or even just shoveling the snow out of your elderly neighbor’s driveway. I can speak from personal experience, as I recently volunteered for an organization that helps give caregivers a bit of a respite once every quarter. The gift of your time is important to those receiving it-but it is also a gift that you give yourself. The joy I took with me as a result of giving back (just a little bit) was the highlight of my weekend. The joy and pride I walked away with was totally unexpected, and left me anxious to make time to volunteer again! Check out Volunteermatch.org to learn about volunteer opportunities in your area.