INDIANAPOLIS — Food pantries throughout Indiana have been awarded milk refrigeration units on behalf of Hoosier dairy farmers as part of an American Dairy Association Indiana pilot grant program.
The program provides food pantries with a cooler to help store milk and other dairy foods at proper temperatures. Dairy farmers applied for the units based on strong community relationships with food pantries in their areas.
“Through our long-standing work with the food bank system, we know that milk is regularly requested by those visiting food banks, but due to its perishability it is not often provided,” said Jenni Browning, ADAI CEO.
“Food pantries may not have the equipment to keep milk cold. This pilot program provides food pantries with the coolers they need to get milk to more families in their communities.”
In Indiana, one in eight people and one in six children are food insecure. Food pantries play an essential role in helping to bridge the hunger gap, especially as families face the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As dairy farmers, we want to ensure our milk is available to everyone,” said Richard Thomas, Middlebury dairy farmer and ADAI president. “I applied for the grant to benefit the local Salvation Army, because they didn’t have a way of keeping milk cold. We have seen firsthand how important these pantries are to local communities and know the milk coolers will make a positive impact for the pantries and their clients.”
ADAI has awarded milk coolers on behalf of local dairy farmers to the following food pantries:
• Bread of Life Community Food Pantry, Plymouth, through Jill Houin, Homestead Dairy.
• Luce Food Pantry, Richland City, through Sam Schwoeppe, Schwoeppe Dairy.
• Faith Chapel Church Pantry, Huntington, through Jasmine Beekman, Beekman Holsteins.
• Salvation Army Pantry, Goshen, through Richard Thomas, Leann Acres.
• Community Center of Caring Food Pantry, Auburn, through Tim Haynes, Superior Dairy.
In addition to the dairy cooler pilot program, ADAI works alongside Indiana’s Feeding America food banks throughout the year to help ensure their clients have access to dairy foods.
To learn more about ADAI programs and how they support Indiana's dairy community, visit winnersdrinkmilk.com.