This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Walmart Foundation for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

After a fun post about Springtime treats, now seems like a good time to call awareness to those that need some extra help this spring. I learned some really surprising facts that I want to share. Did you know that there is a big drop in charitable donations to food banks in the Spring time? I had no idea.  I also learned that one of the main causes of hunger is unemployment. Here comes the big shocking number, 50 million Americans do not know where their next meal is going to be coming from. That is heartbreaking and such a big big number.

Walmart is teaming up with Feeding America as well as ConAgra, General Mills, Kraft and Kellogg’s to help combat the Spring hunger gap. Here is how they are helping. From April 9 – 30, on the Walmart Facebook page you can vote for 1 of 200 communities in need of hunger relief. The communities chosen were based on those with the highest unemployment rates.

Walmart will donate a total of $2 million to the 21 communities receiving the most support. That breaks down to $1 million to the winner and $50,000 each to the 20 runners-up. This initiative is expected to provide meals for 43 million families in need. That’s a huge number too!

I looked through the list of communities and I immediately knew who I would vote for. Many of you know that I live in Arizona. Well Yuma, Arizona has the second highest unemployment on the list with a rate of 25.3%. Sadly there are several different areas of Arizona on the list. I wish I could vote for them all!

I really want to encourage you to Vote to fight spring hunger with Walmart  from April 9-30. You might find a community in your area that needs help, or you can just vote for the community that you feel needs it the most.

There is another way you can help too. If you go to Walmart between April 9-30 and purchase select products from General Mills, Kraft and Kellogg’s, you can donate meals to Feeding America or Action for Healthy Kids, a nonprofit fighting childhood hunger. There will be signs in the store as well as special packaging, so keep a look out. You can help make a difference and feed another family while feeding your own too!