SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO,
Calif. and MODESTO, Calif.,
Sept. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/
-- Milk is one of the most-requested nutrition staples at food
banks, but out of the more than 377 million meals served by
California food banks each year,
the facilities are only able to provide the equivalent of less than
one gallon of milk per person. During September Hunger Action
Month™, California
dairy families are looking to change that statistic by encouraging
Californians to donate fresh, nutritious milk to local food banks
through the Great American Milk Drive.
Community members have two easy ways to donate:
- By donating to The Great American Milk Drive online at
www.MilkLife.com/Give and entering a zip code, the donation goes to
a Feeding America food bank in each donor's local community;
or
- Throughout the month of September, California Ralphs shoppers
can donate $1, $3 or $5 to the
"Pour It Forward" program at check-out to help deliver much-needed
milk to families served by their local California Feeding America
food banks.
California's more than 1,400
dairy farm families are pledging $100,000 in matching funds – equal to 20,000
gallons or 320,000 servings of milk – to get the ball rolling.
"California dairy farmers are
dedicated to providing a wholesome, nutritious product for families
everywhere and to making this nutritious food available to all
families, regardless of circumstances," said John Talbot, CEO of California Milk Advisory
Board. "The Great American Milk Drive offers a tremendous
opportunity for consumers to join us in supporting people in need
and ensuring this support stays in California communities."
"One cup of whole California Milk contains nine essential
nutrients, including eight grams of high-quality protein per
serving, which is important to kids, moms and dads,"i
said Barb Dehn, RN, MS, NP
Stanford University lecturer and
practicing nurse practitioner. "This initiative is an incredible
way to ensure each California
neighbor has access to the nutrition of milk."
"While people donate canned and dry goods, many don't think to
donate milk because it's perishable," said Karen Haren, interim executive director of
Feeding America San Diego "This problem is large in scale, but
awareness is low. Through The Great American Milk Drive and
California dairy farmers' support,
we are closer to helping the one-in-four Californian children
facing hunger."
Learn more at http://www.realcaliforniamilk.com/our-community/
and take part in the conversation across social media with
#MilkDrive.
About the California Milk Advisory Board
The
California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the
California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the
state's more than 1,400 dairy families. With headquarters in
South San Francisco and
Modesto, the CMAB is one of the
largest agricultural marketing boards in the United States. The CMAB executes
advertising, public relations, research and retail and foodservice
promotional programs on behalf of California dairy products, including Real
California Milk and Real California Cheese. For more information
and to connect with the CMAB through social media, visit
RealCaliforniaMilk.com, like at Facebook.com/RealCaliforniaMilk,
view videos at YouTube.com/RealCaliforniaMilk, follow at
Twitter.com/RealCalifMilk and Instagram.com/RealCalifMilk and pin
at Pinterest.com/RealCalifMilk.
i
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SOURCE California Milk Advisory Board