$80,000 invested in grassroots nonprofits nationwide to build belonging between new neighbors and host communities

The Hello Neighbor Network, powered by Hello Neighbor, is pleased to announce that it has awarded a total of $80,000 to 17 nonprofit organizations as part of the Resilience Grant program, made possible with support from The Walmart Foundation.

The Resilience Grant program provides an opportunity for grassroots nonprofits in the Hello Neighbor Network to submit proposals for projects, programs, and events that foster greater community resilience by increasing social connection in communities.

“We are grateful for the support of The Walmart Foundation and excited to be able to offer these grants to our Members and Fellows. Our Resilience Grants program is focused on bringing together new neighbors and host communities, and we believe that these projects will help to promote greater understanding and connection across lines of difference.”
— Sloane Davidson, Founder & CEO of Hello Neighbor

The Resilience Grants program is designed to support a variety of projects that promote connecting among neighbors. Some examples of resilience grant recipients and their projects include:

• Valley Neighbors (Kalispell, MT): Hosting meals catered by immigrants at local churches to bring together new neighbors and host communities (largely older adults who have never met asylum-seekers in their communities)
• Hanan Refugees Relief Group (Milwaukee, WI): Mentorship program bringing together refugee clients and host families
• New Neighbors Partnership (New York, NY): Cultural exchange dinners led by refugee chefs who are trained to share their stories
• Tapestry Farms (Davenport, IA): Increasing food access through garden plots by bringing together communities from east and central Africa and Afghanistan with local families to build relationships across common goals

These projects reflect a common focus on connection points around food, sports, and art to form relationships.

According to the Hello Neighbor Network’s 2019 Refugee Nonprofit Impact Index, 71% of refugees share a meal with a U.S.-born person at least once a month after getting involved with a local refugee nonprofit, compared to 23% of refugees prior to getting involved. Grassroots nonprofits are key to building belonging in their communities and giving people opportunities they need to connect in meaningful ways across lines of difference.

About the Hello Neighbor Network:
The Hello Neighbor Network, powered by Hello Neighbor, works with grassroots organizations serving immigrants and refugees. It promotes greater understanding and connection between new neighbors and host communities and encourages the development of more resilient and inclusive communities by supporting nonprofit organizations and their leaders. For more information, please visit neighbornetwork.io

About Philanthropy at Walmart:
Walmart.org represents the philanthropic efforts of Walmart and the Walmart Foundation. By focusing where the business has unique strengths, Walmart.org works to tackle key social and environmental issues and collaborate with others to spark long-lasting systemic change. Walmart has stores in 19 countries, employs more than 2.1 million associates and does business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. Walmart.org is helping people live better by supporting programs to accelerate upward job mobility for frontline workers, advance equity, address hunger, build inclusive economic opportunity for people in supply chains, protect and restore nature, reduce waste and emissions, and build strong communities where Walmart operates. To learn more, visit www.walmart.org or connect on Twitter @Walmartorg.