walmart-announces-plan-to-support-those-affected-by-the-virginia-walmart-shooting

Walmart announced that after the shooting at a Virginia store where six retailer employees lost their lives, it will support those affected by the shooting and the Chesapeake community in general.

In a letter from John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart USA, in which he addresses associates, the executive expresses his condolences regarding the past events and indicates that the Walmart Foundation intends to contribute $1 million to the United Way of South Hampton Roads Hope and Healing Fund, which will support those affected by the shooting and the Chesapeake community at large.

Furner notes that Walmart will provide a match of 2 :1 for associate donations to this fund as part of its “Season of Giving Back” campaign.

The statement specifies that the store #

is closed and will remain so until further notice and that in the meantime they will continue to be paid to the associates regardless of planned schedules.

In addition, all Walmart employees and their families are reminded that they have access to confidential mental health support resources at no cost, including support via phone, chat or video.

“We will work closely with the team to decide how and when we can remodel and reopen in a way that helps them move forward,” Furner wrote.

The letter says the Walmart family continues to feel anguish over last week’s tragic event at Store #1841, in which a Walmart associate opened fire Tuesday night in the store’s break room, resulting in the deaths of “six incredible and irreplaceable members of our family”, of which a brief description of his career is provided:

– Randy Blevins: was an associate during 15 years that never missed a day of work. She leaves behind her best friend Teresa and three stepdaughters.

– Fernando “Jesús” Chavez-Barron: was a front-end associate and honors student at 11 grade who had recently started working with Walmart to help his family.

– Lorenzo Gamble: he was a 15 year-old goalkeeper whose greatest joys were football and spending time with her two sons.

– Tyneka Johnson: was a partner who loved music, dancing and dreamed of attending college soon.

– Brian Pendleton – Was a janitor for years who was always early for his shifts and loved to joke around with his fellow associates.

– Kellie Pyle: Overnight Team Associate . She leaves behind two children, a granddaughter and a fiancé with whom she had recently moved to the region to marry.

Four other associates were injured that night, two of whom remain in hospital and two have been discharged.

You may also be interested in:

– Surviving employee of a shooting at a Walmart in Virginia sues them for $

million dollars

– Virginia Walmart shooter left a death note and bought a gun before killing six people

– Walmart gunman in Virginia did not say a word and began shooting in the store’s break room, reveals witness

By Scribe