Every other Tuesday, hundreds of cars line the parking lot across from Wellspring Food Distribution Center in Clifton Springs, New York, waiting for the food pantry to open. Families from the local community and surrounding areas rely on this vital resource, where the food pantry provides each family with free food and a gallon of fresh milk. For many, this food distribution is a lifeline, and up until recently, Wellspring had been able to provide 224 gallons of nutritious milk every two weeks.
For the last three years, American Dairy Association North East worked with Feeding New York State to donate milk to the food pantry, ensuring that families in need receive this essential product along with fresh produce, cereals and grains, canned goods, and other dairy products like cheese and yogurt.
The pantry’s cold storage capacity has now doubled, thanks to the addition of a second cooler that keeps the milk fresh until distribution. “It’s awesome for the clients. Times are hard. This is one way that we can really help them,” says Deacon Darla Parr, who began as a volunteer in 2019 and now leads the food distribution program with the help of a small but dedicated team of volunteers.
The pantry’s first milk cooler arrived about a year ago, funded by the Boundless grant through Feeding America that ADA North East helped secure through Feeding New York. Today, milk comes through Foodlink, the regional food bank, which purchases the milk through grants.
Another way we’re bringing milk to people in need is through Fill a Glass with Hope®. This program brings together dairy farmers, agriculture partners, and business leaders to provide fresh milk to families in need, distributed through a network of local food banks, like Foodlink.
While many Americans generously donate canned goods and dry items to food pantries, fresh milk is often one of the most requested but least donated items. Its perishability makes milk difficult to stock, but it remains a critical part of a nutritious diet. In fact, food banks are only able to provide the equivalent of less than one gallon of milk per person, per year, on average.
Thanks to the efforts of programs like Fill a Glass with Hope® and local food banks, families who depend on food pantries are now receiving more fresh milk. This increase has a significant impact on families facing food insecurity, but the demand continues to grow.
By donating to programs like Fill a Glass with Hope® or to your local food bank, you can help ensure that even more families have access to the nutrition they need. Join us in filling more glasses with hope and making a lasting difference in the lives of families in need.
