As a winner of Walmart's second annual "12 Days of Giving" holiday campaign, Recovery Warehouse of Minot was announced Monday as one of the winners to receive a $15,000 grant.
According to a news release, Walmart awarded $150,000 in grants to 10 non-profit organizations across the United States that are helping individuals and families get back on their feet after natural disasters.
Over 12 consecutive days, Walmart will award a total of $1.5 million to 140 organizations across the country that are providing basic needs and services such as food, shelter, clothing and medical care.
Walmart's call for submissions in November resulted in more than 21,677 nominations from Facebook users who submitted descriptions of each non-profit organization's impact on its local community. Submissions were initially reviewed by Walmart associates from across the company and a panel from the Walmart Foundation selected the winning organizations.
Recovery Warehouse of Minot, a place that offers building materials to individuals and families who don't have the resources to rebuild from the 2011 flood, was one of the non-profit organizations held in the spotlight Monday.
According to Mary Barker of Recovery Warehouse, the $15,000 in grant money will be used for drywall mud, which will buy approximately 1,150 buckets. They went through 200 buckets over the past two weeks, she said, so the 1,150 buckets should carry them through the spring.
Last year, Recovery Warehouse was awarded a grant for $10,000 through the same "12 Days of Giving" campaign, Barker noted, which kicked up their fundraising to help them purchase building materials for those in need. The winning essay for this year's campaign was written and submitted by volunteer Nell Summers, who Barker said has supported many flood organizations in Minot, but whose home was not flooded.
"We didn't think we'd win since we won last year," Barker remarked. "But we were surprised to find out that we won again."