March 15 2019 04:40 PM

Milk for Good Campaign Puts Maola Milk in Virginia Food Banks Statewide

The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

January marked the launch of the Milk for Good campaign, Virginia’s first dairy purchase program for food banks. Funded by a $50,000 grant provided by Farm Credit of the Virginias, MidAtlantic Farm Credit, and Colonial Farm Credit, the grant will supply food banks across the state with fresh, local Maola milk for six months. The goal of the initiative is to provide patrons of Virginia food banks with access to milk and the calcium, protein, vitamin D, and other valuable nutrients it provides.According to food bank officials, milk is one of the most requested, but least donated, items. The Milk for Good campaign will reduce the number of people going without milk, providing essential dairy goodness to hungry families. Beginning in January 2019, the campaign will purchase 700 gallons per week over a 24-week period for the federation’s seven food banks. “This is a milk purchase program for getting food insecure families the extra help that they need, and the first statewide project of its kind in Virginia,” said Eddie Oliver, executive director of the federation.

Besides providing an additional way for food banks to supply patrons with the vital nutrients milk provides, the Milk for Good program works to strengthen Virginia’s dairy industry. “Maola Milk is a Virginia brand, sourced locally from Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative member farmers,” said Lindsay Reames, Director for Sustainability & External Relations. “We’re proud to partner with Milk for Good to deliver milk from our family farms to families in need in the Commonwealth.”

“Milk for Good is a win-win for our farmers and communities by creating an additional market for Virginia dairy farmers to provide nutrient-rich, wholesome milk to those most in need, especially children and their families served by food banks,” said Peery Heldreth, CEO of Farm Credit of the Virginias. “This program not only puts fresh milk in the homes of needy families, it is good for our farmers in the dairy industry,” said Paul Franklin, CEO of Colonial Farm Credit.

Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative
is a community of dairy farm families passionate about cultivating dairy goodness and bottling fresh Maola brand milk and dairy products available in the Southeast. Founded in 1920, the cooperative’s farmers produce three billion pounds of milk a year for consumers and manufacturers worldwide. Our dairy farm families take pride in creating dairy products people crave, operating with passion and integrity, responsibly caring for our resources and providing a rewarding livelihood for our farmers and employees. For more information about Maryland & Virginia, visit: mdvamilk.com and for information about Maola, visit: maolamilk.com.