CHESHIRE, CT — Shoppers at Adams Hometown Market, Better Valu, and Tri Town Foods this fall will be making donations at checkouts in support of The Great American Milk Drive.
The drive begins Friday, Sept. 18 with a launch event and continues through November. Shoppers will use tear pad slips to make a donation of $1, $3, or $5, with the funds raised distributed in the form of milk vouchers to clients of the Connecticut Food Bank.
A similar drive last fall was very successful, says Tony Groszew, Director of Sales for Adams Hometown Market, who points out the start of this year’s campaign coincides with the popular Mum Fest, which takes place Sept. 19 and 20 at Adams Hometown Markets in Watertown and Deep River.
“We are entering the season of giving thanks, and there is no better way to honor the spirit of the season than by helping those in need,” says Tony Groszew, Director of Sales at Adams Hometown Market. “We know our shoppers will also be happy to donate to this very worthy cause.”
The drive is part of a national effort aimed at providing highly desired and nutrient-rich gallons of milk to hungry families who need it most. The local effort involves Adams Hometown Market, Guida’s Dairy, the New England Dairy Promotion Board’s Must Be the Milk program, and the dairy farm families of Connecticut.
The donation drive will continue through November at Adams Hometown Market, Better Valu, and Tri Town Foods locations in Deep River, Derby, Milford, Shelton, Terryville, Thomaston, Watertown, Canterbury, Lisbon, Plainfield, East Lyme, and Portland.
“There are too many Connecticut households struggling to put food on the table,” says Jill Monti, Regional Marketing Manager for New England Dairy Promotion Board. “Adams Hometown Market is joining the dairy farm families of Connecticut to bring more much-needed milk to local families in need. Milk is a healthy family favorite, and it is frequently requested by families in need. It is easy to donate to The Great American Milk Drive by visiting your local Adams Hometown Market location and giving at checkout.”
It is estimated that in Connecticut, one in seven households is struggling to put food on the table. There are more than 520,000 people in the state at risk of hunger every year. These are people from all walks of life – children, working parents, seniors, people with disabilities and others. In addition, nearly one child in five under age 18 is hungry or food insecure, and 75 percent of the Connecticut households that receive emergency food assistance in Connecticut live below the poverty line.
Milk is frequently requested by families in need, says Monti, yet it is seldom donated, because while Americans are generous with canned and dry goods, many don’t think to donate milk due to its perishable nature. Because of this need, drive organizers hope shoppers make cash donations at the register upon checkout.
For more information on the Great American Milk Drive, visit www.mustbethemilk.com/milkdrive/
About Adams Hometown Markets
Adams Hometown Market is a Connecticut-owned and operated company, which is owned by Bozzutos Incorporated, and is dedicated to providing service and support to the local community.
About Guida’s Dairy
With a history of continuous growth, Guida’s Dairy has become one of the leading milk processors in New England. Having a modern state of the art plant, Guida’s offers an extensive line of fluid milk, cream, ice cream mixes, fruit drinks, orange juice and a variety of other dairy products. In 2012, Guida Seibert Dairy became part of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA). After operating as a successful family owned business for 65 years, Guida’s Dairy is now operated as a thriving 100% farmer owned business. DFA, which is a large farmer owned co-op, has provided the resources to Guida’s Dairy to grow and expand into an even larger more successful regional dairy processor. Learn more at www.supercow.com
About Connecticut Food Bank
Connecticut Food Bank (ctfoodbank.org), a private, nonprofit organization, works with corporations, community organizations, and individuals to solicit, transport, warehouse and distribute donated food. Founded in 1982, Connecticut Food Bank is an affiliate of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network. Connecticut Food Bank is the largest centralized source of donated, emergency food in Connecticut. Through warehouses in East Haven, Fairfield, and Waterbury, and affiliated distribution centers in New London and Stamford, we provide food products to nearly 700 soup kitchens, shelters, food pantries and child and adult day programs in Fairfield, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London and Windham counties.
About Must Be The Milk
What makes New England so special? Must Be The Milk! Must Be The Milk is an initiative of New England Dairy Promotion Board. The goals of the campaign are to educate New Englanders about dairy farming and encourage them to purchase local milk and dairy products. Learn more at MustBeTheMilk.com.
Source: New England Dairy Promotion Board