In this season of giving, each act of kindness and charity can make a big difference. One way that many of us choose to give back is by donating to local food banks and pantries, who provide meals to our neighbors in need. However, sometimes, the huge influx of food, especially perishables, can be overwhelming for food banks, which can sometimes run out of space for these valuable contributions.
The American Dairy Association North East (ADANE) is partnering up with Central Pennsylvania Food Bank to help Pennsylvania food banks manage cold food inventory and, in turn, boosting nutrition options for those in our communities who rely on this food to feed themselves and their families. On Thursday, December 5, both organizations will donate a refrigeration unit to make more units of fresh, wholesome milk available at New Hope’s Ministries’ Mechanicsburg Center.
“At this time of year, many generous Pennsylvanians donate nonperishable food items to their local food banks. However, they do not realize that fresh milk is one of the most requested yet least donated food items,” said Amy Hill, director of community engagement and advocacy of Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. “During this season of giving, we are proud to partner with ADANE and Pa.’s dairy farmers to donate a refrigeration unit to New Hope Ministries to help more of our neighbors in need enjoy the delicious, nutritious benefits of fresh milk.”
“This donation by ADANE, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and our dairy farmers is a lifeline to neighbors in need,” noted Eric Saunders, executive director of New Hope Ministries. “The people we serve include working individuals who simply cannot make ends meet, senior citizens on fixed incomes, people with disabilities or illnesses, victims of job loss or spousal abandonment and people suffering from other crises. The larger quantities of fresh milk we now can provide will nourish their bodies and spirits at this holiday season and throughout the new year.”
On behalf of dairy farmers, ADANE has donated over 60 milk refrigeration units to food banks in Pennsylvania and New York to store fresh milk bought through Fill A Glass With Hope®, a collaborative effort between Feeding Pennsylvania, the American Dairy Association North East and the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association. The program allows Feeding Pennsylvania member food banks to become licensed as charitable milk sub-dealers by the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing board, meaning they are able to purchase milk from dairies at a reduced price, which is further subsidized by donations and sponsorships and passed on to other local agencies, like soup kitchens, shelters and food pantries. The program was announced at the PA Farm Show in 2016, and since its inception, Fill a Glass with Hope has resulted in 10 million servings of milk.
With staggering statistics around food insecurity in our state, like the fact that 1 in 10 Central Pennsylvanians is food insecure, and 1 in 6 children in Central PA faces hunger every day, something as small as a new cold storage unit can yield amazing results in a community food bank or outreach center. We applaud The American Dairy Association North East and Central Pennsylvania Food Bank for helping to address the ongoing challenge of fighting food insecurity in Pennsylvania. To learn more about Fill a Glass With Hope, visit Feeding PA’s website.
- Feature photo: Dish Works for American Dairy Association North East
- Milk bottle photo: Courtesy of American Dairy Association North East
