A Cleveland Walmart store is holding a food drive - for its own employees.

"Please donate food items so associates in need can enjoy Thanksgiving dinner," reads a sign accompanied by several plastic bins.


The Cleveland Plain Dealer first reported on the food drive, which has sparked outrage in the area."That Walmart would have the audacity to ask low-wage workers to donate food to other low-wage workers - to me, it is a moral outrage," Norma Mills, a customer at the store, told the Plain Dealer

A company spokesman defended the food drive, telling the Plain Dealer that it is evidence that employees care about each other.


Wal-Mart has been criticized for paying low wages to its 2.2 million employees.

Last week, 50 people were arrested after protesting the retailer's pay at a store in Los Angeles.

Wal-Mart turned a profit of $15.7 billion last year.