SYRACUSE, N.Y. – American Dairy Association North East partnered with Price Chopper/Market 32 for the Fill a Glass with Hope® campaign during National Dairy Month that raised $23,011, including a $13,661 match from the retailer. Shoppers “rounded up” their change at checkout throughout the month of June to help local food bank secure more than 10,000 half-gallons of milk for local families in need.
Dairy farmer Jessica Hula of Insight Dairy, Little Falls, N.Y., and New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball supported the campaign by participating in an in-store video that reminded shoppers to donate at checkout.
“Milk is one of the most requested items at food banks, but usually the least donated because of its perishability,” said ADA North East CEO Rick Naczi. “Dairy farmers recognized this need in their communities and initiated Fill a Glass with Hope to answer the call to help make milk more readily available to their neighbors in need.”
Fill a Glass with Hope was initiated by Pennsylvania dairy farmers in 2015 and a partnership was formed with ADA North East, Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association and Feeding Pennsylvania. Funds raised in support of the program enable member food banks to purchase fresh milk directly from local dairies for distribution.
The program launched in New York last year with a retail campaign with Price Chopper. The retailer offered a $10,000 match for a total of $32,000 to support New York families.
“We appreciate Price Chopper’s generous contribution to the campaign this year, knowing families’ food dollars are stretched thin because of the pandemic, and that so many are going without basic necessities like milk,” added Naczi.
More than 10,000 half-gallons of milk will be available to 14 foodbanks throughout the region with most being distributed through the Food Bank of Central New York and the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.
For more information about American Dairy Association North East or Fill a Glass with Hope, visit AmericanDairy.com, or call 315.472.9143.
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About American Dairy Association North East
American Dairy Association North East (ADA North East) is the dairy farmer-funded organization funded by participating dairy farmer’s checkoff investment to build demand and sales for milk and dairy foods throughout the local region. Representing nearly 10,000 dairy farm families in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and northern Virginia, ADA North East develops and implements local programs to drive milk and dairy sales at retail outlets and in schools. The organization also conducts consumer education about dairy through events, traditional and social media, and in collaboration with health professionals through National Dairy Council®. ADA North East works closely with Dairy Management Inc.™, the national dairy checkoff organization, to support nutrition research, national partnerships and developing export markets for dairy to bring a fully integrated promotion program to the region. For more information, visit www.AmericanDairy.com, or call 315.472.9143.
