Replies

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Wal-Mart said Tuesday that it closed more than 120 stores due to Hurricane Katrina while the world's largest retailer and some of its biggest rivals donated money and supplies to residents in affected areas along the Gulf Coast states.

Wal-Mart Stores (Research) said it would donate $1 million to the Salvation Army for relief assistance such as meals for victims and emergency and rescue personnel. ...

A small portion from the WalMart web site - there's much more there about what WalMart is doing: www.walmartfacts.com/community/article.aspx?id=1331

EFFORTS TODAY, September 1, 2005:

The Emergency Contact Service has been created in our stores and on the internet to allow Wal-Mart associates and customers to post messages regarding their well-being on our websites.
We are donating the use of our parking lot in Covington, LA, for emergency services and electric utilities for staging areas and "camping" areas.
To Baton Rouge, we are sending 10 truckloads of water; 20,000 batteries and 20,000 emergency medical kits.
We are concentrating efforts also on helping Houston Astrodome to prepare for the people being moved to the city from the New Orleans Superdome.
We have management on the ground, working with moving supplies, helping stores to re-open, and helping displaced Wal-Mart associates. We are taking calls from associates needing emergency assistance and sending cash through our Associate Disaster Relief Fund.

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS – Cash is what is needed most right now

$1 million in cash donated to the Salvation Army by Wal-Mart to help them with activities such as providing 400,000 meals per day and portable showers.
$1 million in cash donated to the American Red Cross by Wal-Mart, which will help them continue to run shelters and provide relief.
To make it convenient for people to donate to this effort, we are accepting donations for major relief efforts at all 3,800 Wal-Mart and SAM’S CLUB locations.
To make it easy for people to contribute from home, all Wal-Mart and SAM’S CLUB web sites now link to the Salvation Army and Red Cross for donation support.
For our associates, we are providing funds through our Associate Disaster Relief Fund, which helps them obtain money for lodging, food, etc. Additionally, we are making exceptions to our pay policies for this disaster that will be based on facility and impact. Finally, we have a dedicated hotline set up for our associates in need.