Walmart gives $10.8 million to Matthew 25: Ministries for disaster relief fleet expansion

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is investing $10.8 million in Matthew 25: Ministries to expand a national disaster-response fleet in collaboration with Procter & Gamble, a move intended to bring critical relief services closer to communities affected by natural disasters.

The philanthropic investment will help Matthew 25: Ministries add seven laundry trailers and multi-service shower units from Walmart and P&G, along with tow vehicles and generators. The expanded fleet will be strategically positioned across eight regional hubs, including seven new locations, placing relief assets within an eight-hour drive of 90% of the continental United States. By June 2027, the organization expects the fleet to support 48 disaster-response activations annually.

The initiative builds on a disaster-relief model already operated by Matthew 25: Ministries through P&G’s Loads of Hope program, which provides free laundry services to families affected by disasters. According to the organizations, the earlier fleet expansion completed 77 deployments and served more than 25,000 communities by providing essential services, including handling hundreds of thousands of pounds of laundry.

“When disaster strikes, those first few days can be incredibly overwhelming for families and communities trying to recover. This is about reaching people quickly with the items and services that help rebuild hope and let them know they are not alone,” said Julie Gehrki, senior vice president of philanthropy at Walmart. “Together with Matthew 25 and P&G, we are making sure 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.”

The grant deepens a longstanding partnership between Walmart, P&G and Matthew 25: Ministries. Walmart said the funding will support fleet operations, while P&G will continue providing product donations from its portfolio of brands to ensure units are fully equipped for deployments.

“With nearly 35 years of experience on the front lines of disaster relief, we know that basic necessities like clean clothes and hot showers are vital for emotional resilience,” said Tim Mettey, CEO of Matthew 25: Ministries. “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.”

This new announcement builds on Walmart’s previous philanthropic investment in M25M to expand the national relief fleet. Through that initial expansion, the Walmart-funded assets completed 11 deployments and traveled over 50,000 cumulative miles to disaster zones—ultimately providing essential relief including hundreds of showers and thousands of loads of laundry for affected families. To kick off this next phase of collaboration, Walmart associates joined forces earlier this week with P&G and M25M to pack disaster relief care kits. These kits, filled with product donations from P&G brands, will be managed by M25M and deployed to communities in the wake of future disasters, helping provide essential supplies that make the path back to everyday life a bit easier.

“When disaster strikes, those first few days can be incredibly overwhelming for families and communities trying to recover. This isn’t just about reaching people quickly with the items and services that help rebuild hope and meet them where they are most in need,” said Mettey. “This expansion strengthens the national disaster response system and helps provide essential supplies that make the path back to everyday life a bit easier.”

“P&G is proud to work alongside Walmart and Matthew 25: Ministries to provide comfort and care when it’s needed most,” said Claude Zukoski, senior director of community impact at Procter & Gamble. “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 hope and resilience.”