Thanks to the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation's outreach, nearly 100 department leads from the new Walmart distribution center recently volunteered at Mt. Vernon schools. On Read Across America Day, the Walmart employees enjoyed playing dodgeball with young students, engaged with students during lunch and recess duties, and of course read to students. The secondary schools also involved the volunteers in library assistance, lunch duty, maintenance assistance, reading with students and more. School administration, teachers and staff rolled out the red carpet to welcome Mt. Vernon's new friends and partners at the new Walmart distribution center.

The Walmart distribution center is the largest in the U.S. and is located on Mt. Comfort Road in the Mt. Vernon school district. All five schools greeted the new Walmart friends with a welcome sign that was signed by students and followed by a brief overview presentation of the Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation.

During the volunteer hours, one Walmart employee contacted his wife who is a kindergarten teacher and shared how she needed to come work at a Mt. Vernon School. Another began a discussion about sharing unwanted products with Mt. Vernon staff to help fulfill supply needs. There is no doubt that the partnership between Walmart, Mt. Vernon Schools and the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation is just beginning!

Students seemed to thoroughly enjoy having the visitors in their schools. Young students waived and engaged with the employees and asked a number of questions such as, "are you famous"? 

A few of the Walmart employees lived in Hancock County and all were encouraged to move in and experience the Mt. Vernon community every day.

The kindness expressed by Mt. Vernon students, staff and Walmart visitors created a day full of smiles and gratitude which exemplified the spirit of the Mt. Vernon community.

Click Through the Pictures Below