Local dairy farmers Jessica Hula of Little Falls, N.Y., and Walter Rutledge of Jarrestville, Md., joined ADA North East to participate in local and national charitable milk campaigns to recognize June as National Dairy Month.

Fill a Glass with Hope®

Jessica Hula and New York Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball, joined in a Fill a Glass with Hope® video that is part of Price Chopper/Market 32’s National Dairy Month campaign.

Watch the video with Commissioner Ball and Jessica Hula:

Shoppers in the chain’s 131 stores are reminded to “round upâ€_x009d_ their change at checkout to help local food banks secure milk for local families in need. Fill a Glass with Hope® was initiated by Pennsylvania dairy farmers in 2015 and launched in New York last year to help feed local communities through donations to local food banks.

Great American Milk Drive

The Great American Milk Drive helps fight childhood hunger through milk donations, and retailer Safeway is once again partnering with ADA North East, Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) and Feeding America to present the campaign. Stores in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware are collecting consumer donations at checkout. Last year, Safeway donations totaled $193,000, which is approximately 48,350 gallons of milk.

With milk being one of the most requested but least donated items at food banks, especially during the time of COVID-19 quarantine, dairy farmers like Walter Rutledge are dedicated to getting milk into the hands of their neighbors in need.

“Local dairy farmers like me are committed to working every day to provide our communities with a nutritious and wholesome product,â€_x009d_ Rutledge said. “During this challenging time, we are working harder than ever to ensure that your local dairy aisle and food pantry is stocked with fresh, local milk.â€_x009d_

Watch the video with Walter Rutledge:

Since 2014, the Great American Milk Drive has delivered more than 2 million gallons, or more than 33 million servings, of milk to children and families in need. Donations can be made in-store at a Safeway location, or online at milklife.com/give.