Walmart unlocks $10.8 million to accelerate disaster relief across US

06 / 06 / 2026

By Marwa Nassar - -

Walmart has announced a $10.8 million philanthropic investment in Matthew 25: Ministries, an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization, to accelerate disaster response efforts across the United States through an expanded national relief fleet developed in collaboration with Procter & Gamble (P&G).

The funding supports a major expansion of Matthew 25: Ministries’ disaster response network, with plans to position relief vehicles within an eight-hour drive of 90% of the mainland United States.

Fleet expansion aims to accelerate emergency response:

Building on an existing disaster relief model, the program will add seven laundry trailers and multi-service shower units provided through the collaboration between Walmart and P&G, along with tow vehicles and generators.

The expanded fleet will be strategically located across eight regional hubs nationwide, including seven newly established locations.

By June 2027, the network is expected to support up to 48 disaster response activations annually, providing thousands of laundry loads, hot showers, and essential consumer products from P&G brands, including Always, Crest, Bounty, and Pampers.

Focus on critical first days after disasters:

“When disaster strikes, those first few days can be incredibly overwhelming for families and communities trying to recover,” said Julie Gehrki.

“This is about reaching people quickly with the items and services that help build hope and let them know they are not alone. Together with Matthew 25 and P&G, we are making sure that families in hard-to-reach communities aren’t left behind, giving them access to essential services and comforting care within the critical first 24 to 36 hours after a disaster.”

Long-standing partnership supports expansion:

The grant builds on the long-term collaboration between Walmart, Matthew 25: Ministries, and P&G.

While Walmart’s funding serves as the primary philanthropic investment supporting the expansion, P&G is providing additional co-funding for the fleet as well as product donations to equip the units for deployment.

“With nearly 30 years of experience on the front lines of disaster relief, we know that basic necessities like clean clothes and a hot shower are vital for emotional resilience,” said Tim Mettey.

“This continued commitment from Walmart, supported by P&G, is a game-changer. It gives us the regional infrastructure needed to bridge the gap between immediate crisis and long-term recovery for those who are often the hardest to reach.”

Building on previous relief efforts:

The latest commitment follows Walmart’s earlier philanthropic investment in Matthew 25: Ministries to expand the national relief fleet.

Through the initial expansion, Walmart-funded assets completed 11 disaster deployments and traveled more than 50,000 cumulative miles, providing hundreds of showers and thousands of loads of laundry to affected communities.

To launch the next phase of the partnership, Walmart associates recently joined P&G and Matthew 25: Ministries volunteers to assemble disaster relief care kits containing donated products from P&G brands. The kits will be managed by Matthew 25: Ministries and deployed to communities affected by future disasters.

P&G highlights importance of essential services:

“P&G is proud to work with Walmart and Matthew 25: Ministries to provide comfort and care when it’s needed most,” said Claude Zukowski.

“After a disaster, something as simple as clean clothes or a hot shower can make all the difference in helping families feel like themselves again. Through this expansion, the P&G Disaster Relief Program will be able to bring those essential comforts of home to more communities in their hardest moments, helping them rebuild with hope and resilience.”