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With over 255,000 Associates over the age of 55, Wal-Mart is no stranger to the issues that are important to seniors. To celebrate National Grandparent's Day, each Wal-Mart store awards a local youth-oriented 501(c)3 non-profit a $500 grant to carry out projects that benefit seniors. More than $800,000 was contributed to help in this special effort last year! There are many exciting and rewarding opportunities for youth in your community who wish to participate in or create their own Grandparent's Day activities in their town. There have been many fun, creative ideas for projects that have been implemented in recent years. Programs that qualify for the Grandparent's Day grant may include (but are not limited to): * Delivering fruit baskets to nursing homes * Hosting a bingo game for senior citizens * Providing lunch for grandparents at a local food kitchen * Delivering flowers to local grandparents with families out of town The deadline to apply for the 2003 Grandparent's Day Grant is August 22, 2003. All Grandparent's Day grants will be presented on September 5, 2003 in conjunction with Grandparent's Day Sunday, September 7. Past Grandparent's Day Activities The following letters are just two of many examples we've received about the positive impact of last year's Grandparent's Day in local communities. An associate from Store #1603 in Chester, South Carolina, had a very memorable experience: "I went to the Chester Park Elementary School and had a coloring session with a group of 3rd graders. We used old sign toppers and turned them over to color on. Our theme was, 'Grandma/Grandpa, You make me SMILE'. "The kids used crayons, markers and stencils for their masterpieces, which were then taken back to the store and hung all over. The children then came to the store with their family to find their creation. They were very proud to see their work hung up for all to see! After Grandparent's day was over the artwork was returned to the school for display and the children got to take them home." An associate at store #2435 in Dundalk, Maryland witnessed a truly remarkable act of kindness last year: "We decided to ask a teacher at a local school if she and five students would like to visit the North Point Senior Center for Grandparent's Day. We took along some stuffed animals and small packs of lotion, toothpaste, powder and other little things. Everyone loved the gifts! One man named Frank let the kids put bead necklaces all over him and take pictures. Mr. Williams, a blind resident, received a stuffed animal. He told the kids it felt just like his pet and that it made his day. "Our biggest highlight of the day was a lady named Sylvia. She noticed a little watch one of our Wal-Mart associates was wearing and commented how nice it was. Well, being very generous, the associate took off the watch and gave it to Sylvia who was so overwhelmed she started to cry. The same associate, noticing the tattered dress Sylvia was wearing, purchased her a new one the next day. "It didn't stop there, though. The kids, seeing the incredible act of kindness from this associate, gathered enough money to buy the associate a new watch and presented it to her at a morning meeting!! It was a wonderful event for everyone involved."
