Everyone gets the point award-winning “Got Milk” advertising campaign featuring movie stars and sports heroes with a milk mustache. The idea was to get us to drink more milk – and to recognize that it’s good for you.
It worked.
That’s great, but to many children in Southeast Michigan that tagline is changed to “want milk,”
Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan is working to get more milk into the mouths of Detroit kids. And it’s getting help from supporters including the United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM), which recently donated a truck filled with more than 4,300 gallons of milk to Gleaners Detroit Warehouse & Distribution Center.
“Fresh milk is a nutritious staple for children, and one of the most requested foods by the families we serve, who frequently don’t have sufficient resources to buy it.” – Julie Beamer, COO, Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan
Additionally, it purchased another 21,600 gallons, including the truck that was delivered on October 18, through financial donations from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Quicken Loans, Gleaners volunteers and other donors.
Gleaners also received 39,888 gallons of fresh milk donations over the past year from UDIM, Kroger and the Michigan Milk Producers Association.
Photo: Paul Engstrom
Although it seems like a lot of milk, it’s still not enough, according to Sharon Toth, the Chief Executive Officer of the United Dairy Industry of Michigan.
“Hunger is a serious issue and with an average of eight grams of high-quality protein per cup, milk is an ideal product to supply hungry individuals,” says Toth, who is also a registered dietitian. “On behalf of all Michigan dairy farm families, UDIM is incredibly proud to partner with Gleaners to help fill a nutrient gap and increase access to milk. There isn’t anything closer to our farmers’ hearts than feeding people.”
UDIM is matching donation, gallon-to-gallon. That means $10 donation will help Gleaners provide 12 gallons of milk to families in need.
The Milk Match Program will help Gleaners provide a total 61,488 gallons of milk to food insecure families in SE Michigan this year.
“Hunger is a serious issue and with an average of eight grams of high-quality protein per cup, milk is an ideal product to supply hungry individuals.” -Sharon Toth, CEO, United Dairy Industry of Michigan
According to Feeding America, milk is among the top five requested foods by food bank clients but sourcing and distributing a consistent supply of milk and milk products is a challenge. It is one of the main reasons dairy comprises only 5.3 percent of food available in food banks.
“Fresh milk is a nutritious staple for children, and one of the most requested foods by the families we serve, who frequently don’t have sufficient resources to buy it. Yet, milk is rarely donated,” says Julie Beamer, Gleaners Chief Operating Officer. “We’re humbled by the continued generosity of our donors who help ensure that thousands of children here in southeastern Michigan have the protein and calcium-rich milk they need to help them learn, grow and play.”
Donations will be accepted throughout the holiday season at www.gcfb.org/milkmatch.
Editor’s Note: Marge Sorge is the Founder and Publisher of Detroit Unspun, a collaborative partner of TheHUB.
More Milk! Gleaners delivers more than 61,000 gallons of milk to children in need added by Marge Sorge on
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