Walmart to donate $125K to help Houston Food Bank recover from produce loss

Matt Toomes, chief operating officer of the Houston Food Bank, gives a tour of one of the center's refrigeration areas on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, in Houston. The food bank lost 1.8 million pounds of food, including produce, when a malfunction with a cooling unit caused an ammonia leak in three of the center's refrigeration areas last week. "What a tragedy, what a waste," he said. less Matt Toomes, chief operating officer of the Houston Food Bank, gives a tour of one of the center's refrigeration areas on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, in Houston. The food bank lost 1.8 million pounds of food, ... more Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Walmart to donate $125K to help Houston Food Bank recover from produce loss 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

Walmart said it would donate $125,000 to the Houston Food Bank following an ammonia leak at the food bank that contaminated 1.8 million pounds of food the week before Thanksgiving.

"When we learned of the immediate need, our team came together to identify ways we could support and are pleased to contribute ... so Houstonians grappling with putting food on the table this Holiday season don't have to struggle," Nick Berkeley, Walmart's South Central Texas regional general manager, said in a statement.

RELATED: Houston Food Bank donations start to arrive after produce loss

The Bentonville, Ark.-based discount retailer has been a longtime partner of food pantries, including the Houston Food Bank. The nonprofit food bank earlier this week said it had to throw out all of its refrigerated food after a fan broke last week in a storage room, severing a line containing ammonia that cools the space.

Walmart is one of several companies, including grocers and food distributors such as Sysco, who are stepping up to help the Houston Food Bank in the aftermath of the produce loss. H-E-B on Wednesday said it planned to send at least three truck loads of produce, meats and dry goods to the food bank. Kroger followed on Thursday with a $50,000 donation and a truckload of perishable food. United Airlines said the company would match up to $100,000 in individual donations to the food bank, and Memorial Hermann on Friday said it will donate $50,000 and encourage its employees to volunteer at the bank.