Sam’s Club Sets Up Drive-Thru Farmer’s Market to Show Appreciation for University Medical Center Healthcare Workers, Employees

Company donates 20,000 pounds of fresh produce to UMC’s Spirit of Charity Foundation

NEW ORLEANS April 16, 2020 — Today, Sam’s Club associates from across southern Louisiana worked together to deliver 10 tons of fresh produce to University Medical Center and set up a drive-thru farmer’s market to distribute the food and thank the hospital’s healthcare workers and employees.

Sam’s Club donated the food from its Terrell, Texas Grocery Distribution Center and associates from across the area placed prepackaged produce in the trunks of the hospital employees’ vehicles. Organizers estimate that more than 1,000 employees were the recipients of more than 5,000 plums, kiwis, bell peppers, lemons, sweet onions and grapes. Workers also received flowers from Sam’s Club associates in honor of their service.

“Our doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, lab techs and other frontline staff come to work every day with a singular mission – to provide the very best care for the community, especially in times like these. They aren’t looking for anything in return, so the outpouring of love and support from the business community has been amazing,” said Danny Hardman, University Medical Center’s CEO.

“These healthcare professionals are working long hours and can’t always get out to stores before they close, so this generous gift of fresh produce from Sam’s Club is greatly appreciated.”

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards also lauded the state’s healthcare workers as well as the partnership of Sam’s Club and its parent company, Walmart, to the state.

“Our health care workers on the front lines are heroes working long hours to care for those who are sick from COVID-19. I am so grateful to Sam’s Club for recognizing these critical workers and supporting them with fresh produce,” Edwards said.

“We owe all of our health care workers a debt of gratitude and this gesture is a simple way that Sam’s Club can help support their health and boost their morale during a difficult time. Sam’s Club and its parent company, Walmart, have been amazing partners to the state through donations and supporting testing sites in several parishes, and I am appreciative of their support.”

Dozens of Sam’s Club associates were on hand to operate the drive-thru farmer’s market from several clubs across the area. The donation was delivered by a member of Walmart’s Road Team, the company’s elite group of truck drivers, from a Sam’s Club distribution center in Terrell, Texas.

“Our first responders are America’s greatest heroes of this pandemic,” said Chris Poulin, vice president and regional general manager for Sam’s Club. “We know they are working around the clock to keep the New Orleans community safe, and Sam’s Club is proud to be able to offer this small way of providing support.”

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About Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club®, a division of Walmart, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is a leading membership warehouse club offering superior products, savings and services to millions of members in nearly 600 clubs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Now in its 37th year, Sam’s Club continues to redefine warehouse shopping with its highly curated assortment of high-quality fresh food and Member’s Mark items, in addition to market leading technologies and services like Scan & Go, Club Pickup and home delivery service in select markets. To learn more about Sam’s Club, visit the Sam’s Club Newsroom, shop at SamsClub.com, and interact with Sam’s Club on Twitter and Facebook.

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