HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvanians enjoyed free legen-DAIRY Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association Farm Show milkshakes today while donating to a great cause, Feeding Pennsylvania’s “Fill a Glass with Hope® Campaign” to provide fresh milk to neighbors in need. During a special “Dairy Month Farm Show in June” event hosted at the State Capitol, it was announced that more than $670,000 has been raised since the program’s inception in 2015. These resources have provided more than four million servings of fresh milk to Pennsylvanian’s facing hunger.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding teamed up with the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association, PennAg Industries Association, American Dairy Association North East, Center for Dairy Excellence, statewide food bank representatives, dairy royalty, dairy farmers and processors, donors and singer-songwriter Olivia Farabaugh. The celebration showcased agriculture, the Commonwealth’s number one industry, the importance of the dairy industry and dairy farmers and the successful first-of-its-kind statewide charitable fresh milk program in the country.
“We are extremely proud of our dairy industry, and as dairy farmers, our goal is to make sure no child or family goes without nutritious fresh milk in the Commonwealth,” said Dave Smith, executive director of the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association. “With milk as one of the most requested items at our food banks, we are pouring it across the Commonwealth, thanks to our innovative public-private partnership. Not only are we pleased to be a leader in the nation for dairy production and number of dairy farms being operated, but also in giving back by feeding our hungry neighbors, thanks to the generosity from corporate leaders, agricultural organizations and the public.”
With the dairy industry being the largest component of Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry, milk production alone contributes to more than 33 percent of the state’s agricultural income, generating nearly $5 billion in total economic revenue. Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding shared Gov. Tom Wolf’s proclamation designating June as Dairy Month and recognized the industry’s accomplishments.
In the proclamation, Gov. Wolf stated, “Pennsylvania is proud of its dairy industry and the important contribution it makes to our economy and the welfare of our citizens. We salute dairy farmers and their families for the strength and vitality they bring to rural communities throughout the commonwealth and their commitment to using advanced technology for maximum efficiency, as well as their dedication to animal care, environmental stewardship, and quality dairy products.”
“Make no mistake: dairy is big business in Pennsylvania. Dairy is a key sector of Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry, not to mention the state’s overall economy,” said Agriculture Sec. Russell Redding. “Dairy farmers, with their legendary work ethic, are the backbone of the industry.”
“Feeding Pennsylvania is incredibly proud of the success of Fill a Glass with Hope®, delivering more than four million servings of milk to families in need over the last two years. No one in Pennsylvania should be denied access to nutritious food, including fresh milk, especially the nearly half a million children in our Commonwealth who are facing hunger every day,” said Jane Clements-Smith, executive director of Feeding Pennsylvania. “During the summer, many kids don’t have access to meals like school lunch, so their families rely on the charitable food network. We strongly encourage people to go to feedingpa.org/milk and make a donation to help our food banks continue to increase the amount of milk they can serve to families in need.”
Throughout the day, free milkshakes were provided to visitors and donations were encouraged to the “Fill a Glass with Hope®” campaign launched during the January 2015 Pennsylvania Farm Show. Olivia Farabaugh, a singer/songwriter from Palmyra and contestant on the hit television show, “The Voice” performed for attendees and previewed a new song for a new CD she is working on to benefit Fill A Glass With Hope®. It’s expected to be released later this year.
Also participating was Chester County dairy farmer Tim Kurtz, speaking on behalf of dairy industry partners. Kurtz noted that everyone from Pennsylvania’s dairy farmers to milk processors were dedicated to providing access to milk’s nutritional benefits through the statewide charitable milk campaign.
Donations can still be made online at www.feedingpennsylvania.org/milk, or checks can be mailed to the eight Feeding Pennsylvania food banks with “milk program” written in the memo line.
The donations being collected are for Feeding Pennsylvania’s Fill a Glass with Hope® program, a partnership between Feeding Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association and American Dairy Association North East. It is the nation’s first statewide charitable fresh milk program that connects Feeding Pennsylvania member food banks with their local dairies to purchase milk at a reduced rate for distribution to Pennsylvania families.
— Fill a Glass with Hope® Campaign