“Milk is one of the most requested items at food banks, but one of the least donated because of its perishability,” said ADA North East CEO John Chrisman. “Dairy farmers recognized this need in their local communities and helped initiate the charitable campaign to help their neighbors.” Now, working jointly with retail partners, corporate donors and grassroots promotion committees, $698,085 has been raised to provide fresh fluid milk to families in need throughout ADANE’s marketing region.
The program began in 2015, when Fill a Glass with Hope® was established as a partnership between dairy farmers through ADA North East, Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association and Feeding Pennsylvania. Since that time, the program has expanded to New York and most recently, Maryland.
Funding provided through corporate sponsors and individual donations, allows food banks to purchase milk directly from processors, which is then distributed to local food pantries for families in need.
Retail check-out programs make donating easy for consumers. Participating retailers include:
- Safeway
- ShopRite
- Shoppers Food and Pharmacy
- Weis Supermarkets
- Price Chopper
- Market 32
- Grand Union
