Uncle Sam's army: Walmart in the American imagination

Since Sam Walton's death in 1992, Walmart's charitable giving has increased and now approach US$1 billion each year. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Walmart spearheaded the relief effort, getting 100,000 meals, 100 truckloads of supplies, $20 million in cash donations and promise of jobs for every displaced worker with a speed that outmatched even the government. A logistical feat that earned appreciation from many quarters that had long maligned it as a junky department store