More than 20,000 gallons of milk will make it onto the tables of New York families through this week’s milk drives. In addition to two gallons of milk, each family will also receive 20 pounds of dairy products thanks to American Dairy Association North East and local dairy processors, cooperatives and community groups.
Milk will be purchased from Dairy Farmers of America and Upstate Niagara Cooperative with government-funded grants through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). To-date, more than 700,000 gallons of milk have been distributed between CFAP, Nourish New York and the Dairy Farmers of American milk drives, which began in April.
Dairy farmer Paul Fouts of Fouts Dairy, Cortland, N.Y., volunteered at today’s milk drive at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, where they distributed more than 8,000 gallons of milk.
“As a dairy farmer, I don’t always see things like this — and fortunately, there are state and federal programs helping people here to get food, just something to feed their families,â€_x009d_ said Fouts. “When my business is struggling to pay its bills, it’s easy to forget that it’s different than struggling on a personal level.â€_x009d_
To put in perspective the amount given away at the drive, he added, “we’re giving away about 8,000 gallons of milk today, which is how much milk we produce in a day and half.â€_x009d_
This week’s additional milk drives include:
- August 12 — Griffiss Air Force Base, Rome, N.Y., 4,000 gallons
- August 12 — Drop-off to Salvation Army, Syracuse, N.Y., 4,000 gallons
- August 13 — Oswego County Fairgrounds, Sandy Creek, N.Y., 2,160 gallons
- August 13 — State University of New York, Canton, N.Y., 2,160 gallons