SYRACUSE, N.Y. (April 14, 2025) – American Dairy Association North East is pleased to announce its partnership with Shoppers Food for a Mother’s Day campaign to provide fresh milk to Maryland and District of Columbia families in need.
The Fill A Glass with Hope® campaign, which is celebrating its milestone 10th anniversary, kicks off at all Shoppers Food locations on Monday, April 14th and will run through Thursday, May 15th. Customers can make a $1, $3 or $5 donation at checkout. All donations will be used to purchase fresh milk for the Capital Area and Maryland food banks.
“Milk is one of the most requested items at food banks, but one of the least donated due to perishability,” said American Dairy Association North East Health and Wellness Specialist Michelle Barber, MA, RDN, CDN.
“Without milk in the diet, it is difficult to get the recommended essential nutrients for health, especially for children,” Barber said. “Milk is the top source of calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D in the American diet – nutrients critical to development and growth in children.”
“Through our participation in this initiative, we aim to ensure that those in need have access to this essential dietary staple,” said Rick Taylor, Vice President of Operations at Shoppers Food. “By partnering with local dairies and food banks, we are able to bridge this gap and contribute significantly to the health and well-being of our community members.”
“As many as 1 in 3 Marylanders struggle to regularly access the nutritious food we all need to thrive, said Carmen Del Guercio, president and CEO of the Maryland Food Bank. “Fresh milk is in high demand among our network of community partners and the neighbors we serve, and that’s why we are grateful for campaigns like Fill a Glass with Hope.”
Fill A Glass with Hope® was initiated in 2015 to ensure families in need had access to fresh, nutritious milk. Thanks to generous supporters, the program has distributed more than 47 million servings of fresh milk since it began through a network of pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and feeding programs.
“Now, more than ever, we need to support local food banks. Dairy farmers care immensely about getting fresh milk and other dairy products to families in need. Shoppers Food, and their customers, are helping us fill glasses in every household with milk and hope. We are grateful for their participation,” said John Chrisman, CEO of American Dairy Association North East.
Find out more about the Fill A Glass with Hope® campaign here.
About American Dairy Association
American Dairy Association North East (ADANE) is the local affiliate of the National Dairy Council® and the regional consolidation of three promotion organizations including the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Inc., Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program. Committed to nutrition education and research-based communications, ADANE provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier nation, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media. Funded by dairy checkoff dollars from more than 8,300 dairy farm families in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and northern Virginia, ADANE works closely with Dairy Management Inc.™ to bring a fully integrated promotion program to the North East region. For more information, visit AmericanDairy.com.
About Shoppers
Shoppers Food, which began in 1949 as Jumbo Food Stores, became part of the United Natural Foods, Inc. family in 1999. Shoppers is proud to serve the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia markets, offering a full-service supermarket with everything consumers have come to expect from a grocer while never forgetting their “Everyday Low Warehouse Pricing” roots. Learn more at shoppers.com.