New York Dairy Farmer Turns ‘Miles for Milk’ – Raises $30,000+ to Help Supply Fresh Milk to Families in Need

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – American Dairy Association North East partnered with dairy farmer Tyler Beck of Freeville, New York, who ran the New York City Marathon to support Fill a Glass with Hope®, the charitable food campaign that helps get fresh milk to families in need.

ADA North East secured a spot in the 26.2-mile race and asked Beck, an avid long-distance runner, to join “Team Milk” and help raise $1,000 for each mile that would enable Feeding New York State to provide fresh milk to the families it serves. The “Miles for Milk” campaign surpassed the $26,200 goal – reaching $30,722 through to generous donations.

Milk is one of the most requested but least donated items at food banks. Thanks to this campaign, Feeding New York State estimates that it will be able to distribute about 250,000 servings, or 8,000 gallons, of fresh milk through its 4,000 partner agencies across the state.

“Hitting the $30,000 mark was an awesome testament to our local community, the amazing people we work with and the dairy industry as a whole,” said Beck. “When we set that goal, it seemed a pretty lofty milestone, but it became clear early on that we were going to meet it and we did.”

Beck also met a personal milestone by completing the marathon, his second, in less than three hours at 2:57.

“It was a cool full-circle moment to know that the safe, healthy product we produce at the farm will now be made available to local families because of this great campaign that ultimately helped surpass both of our goals!”

Fill a Glass with Hope was initiated in 2015 by Pennsylvania dairy farmers with ADA North East, PA Dairymen’s Association and Feeding Pennsylvania. More than $1.5 million has been raised to provide 49 million servings of milk through a network of food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and feeding programs. We have since expanded the program with retailers across the ADA North East six-state region and funds are also raised through grants, corporate sponsorships and individual donations.