NEW YORK — Retailers have once again proven to be among the first responders in times of natural disaster.
Walmart pledged to donate up to $1.5 million to the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and Feeding America to help with relief efforts.

Retailers have once again proven to be among the first responders in times of natural disaster.
Walmart pledged to donate up to $1.5 million to the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and Feeding America to help with relief efforts.

The company also worked with the American Red Cross, donating water, food, snack items, personal care products, diapers and blankets to shelters serving those displaced by the storm. The company also transported generators to schools and hospitals in New York City and delivered about a million bottles of water throughout the Northeast. Sam’s Clubs in the Northeast temporarily waived membership fees in areas affected by the storm, and set up cell phone recharging stations to help out people without power.

A number of other mass retailers announced substantial donations of their own. Target Corp. donated $500,000 in monetary support and products to assist with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. The donation will include $425,000 in cash and in-kind donations to the American Red Cross, $50,000 in cash donation to the Salvation Army, and $25,000 in gift cards to local Target stores to help with community needs.

Walgreen Co. pledged $250,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which also received $100,000 from CVS Caremark Corp. and $100,000 from the Rite Aid Foundation.

Walgreens also accepted shopper donations, delivered six truckloads of bottled water, and diverted its health tour bus to New York to deliver blankets, water and other services.

The offers of help were not limited to retailers in the affected region. Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix Supermarkets established a program to let its customers and associates donate to relief efforts in the Northeast by adding to their grocery totals when checking out at the retailer’s registers. Collected money would be channeled through the American Red Cross and designated specifically for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, the company said.

Delhaize America’s Food Lion chain also partnered with the American Red Cross to accept register and online donations.

Among the suppliers offering assistance were Kellogg Co. and Anheuser-Busch.

Kellogg announced a $500,000 commitment to support relief efforts, including a $250,000 cash contribution to the American Red Cross and $250,000 in food to Feeding America, a hunger-relief charity.

Anheuser-Busch distributed more than 1 million cans of emergency drinking water to people in affected areas, and also announced a $100,000 donation to the American Red Cross.