California Ag Network

Tag: dairy donations

  • California Dairy Families and Raley’s Partner To Fight Food Insecurity

    In honor of June as National Dairy Month, the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) is partnering for the fourth year with Raley’s Food For Families program to deliver milk and dairy foods to nourish families in California communities.

    Throughout June, California dairy families, through the CMAB, will match customer donations made in-store and online to the Food For Families program dollar-for-dollar, up to $35,000, helping supply California dairy products to feeding programs. Messaging featuring “Do Good with Dairy” will appear in-store and across digital channels to raise awareness of the initiative.

    In California, over 1.8 million households face food insecurity.

    “Even in the most productive agricultural state in the nation, families can struggle with food insecurity and nutritional challenges,” said California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross. “When we work together – the way the California Milk Advisory Board and Raley’s are for Dairy Month – we can get more fresh, nutritious dairy products where they are needed most, and where they can do the most good.”

    “As a California dairy farmer, I strongly believe in making milk and dairy foods accessible to families, as they are among the most nutritious and affordable options available,” said Nicole Morris, who operates JNM Dairy with her husband. “This partnership provides essential support to communities while emphasizing the vital role dairy plays in supporting families’ health and well-being.”

    Milk donations will be distributed to 12 Food For Family partner food banks – Alameda County Community Food Bank, Central California Food Bank, Food Bank for Monterey County, Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano, Feeding the Foothills, Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Redwood Empire Food Bank, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County, Second Harvest of the Greater Valley and Yolo Food Bank.

    “Milk is a nutrient-rich staple that plays a vital role in helping our neighbors maintain healthy food choices at home. We are incredibly grateful for the continued partnership between the CMAB and Raley’s Food For Families. Being able to provide dairy products like milk to the community makes a meaningful difference,” said Second Harvest of the Greater Valley CEO Jessica Vaughan .

    Raley’s absorbs all administrative costs to maximize the impact of every donation.

    “Throughout the year we welcome donations to Food For Families to nourish our communities,” said Zoe Edwards, Raley’s Food For Families Operations Manager. “Dairy remains one of the most in-demand, nutritious food groups and an important source of protein that food banks are eager to ensure access to. We are proud to partner with Real California Milk to supply dairy products to our food bank partners.”

    The Real California Milk CADAIRY4GOOD platform focuses on increasing access to dairy foods for individuals and families throughout California through partnerships to pilot programs to deliver product and refrigeration resources to the state’s food banks and feeding programs. — Story Contributed by the California Milk and Raley’s Food For Families

  • U.S. Dairy Industry Donates Over 250,000 Meals to Reduce Hunger in Southern California

    The IDFA Foundation teamed up with 20 leading U.S. dairy companies and suppliers recently to take a bite out of hunger in Southern California, donating more than 4 truckloads of nutritious dairy products and giving more than $42,000 to FIND Food Bank to support the non-profit’s work with food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and Mobile Markets across 10,000 square miles in California. The donations were announced last week at Dairy Forum 2026 hosted by the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) in Palm Desert, Calif. Dairy company leaders visited the food bank on Wednesday, Jan. 28th to share their gratitude with staff for addressing hunger in the region.

    Since early January, 9 dairy food companies have shipped approximately 4 truckloads of fresh and shelf stable milk, cheese, yogurt, and coffee creamers to FIND Food Bank as part of the industry’s collective giving. Additionally, nearly a dozen companies and organizations came together to donate $42,500 to FIND. A complete list of donors is below. The combined food and financial contributions will make it possible for FIND to provide more than 250,000 meals to food insecure families in Southern California. Each month, FIND meets the food and nutrition needs of approximately 120,000 people.

    The IDFA Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit that seeks to make an important contribution to people and communities on behalf of the U.S. dairy industry by providing grants that reduce hunger, improve environmental sustainability, and enhance the welfare of people working in food manufacturing. Since Fall 2022, the Foundation–supported in large part by contributions from U.S. dairy companies–has provided more than 1 million meals to food insecure people in the U.S. and around the world through financial support and coordinated food donations to non-profit hunger relief organizations, including many Feeding America food banks.

    “Dairy products are among the most requested items at food banks because of their incredible nutritional value. The IDFA Foundation is honored to join 20 leading dairy companies and suppliers to bring fresh and shelf stable milk, cheese, yogurt and more to the 120,000 people served by FIND each month,” said Matt Herrick, executive director of the IDFA Foundation. “Today’s donation also helps IDFA Foundation exceed a significant milestone of providing more than 1 million meals to food insecure families, thanks to the generosity of our members and our U.S. dairy industry. Together, we are committed to ending hunger in the communities where we live and work.”

    We are incredibly grateful to the IDFA Foundation and its member companies for their generosity,” said Debbie Espinosa, President & CEO of FIND Regional Food Bank. “This record-breaking $42,500 investment—the largest donation the IDFA Foundation has made to any food bank—along with nutritious dairy products is already making a meaningful difference for the families we serve. Just as important, this effort has helped us build new relationships with dairy partners who are now exploring ongoing donations. Dairy has long been one of our most challenging and unpredictable commodities, and through the IDFA Foundation, we’re able to expand access to healthy foods while creating a more stable, reliable supply for our community. We’re excited about what this partnership makes possible moving forward.”

    FIND is the regional food bank serving eastern Riverside and southern San Bernardino Counties in southern California. It is one of the 200 Feeding America network food banks in the United States. FIND is also the regional emergency disaster response food bank recognized by the state and county as the first line of defense against hunger. The food bank helps feed an average of 120,000 people each month through its network of 155 distribution sites, which includes FIND’s 30 Community Mobile Markets, and nearly 100 non-profit community partners. In 2023, FIND distributed 28.6 million pounds of food valued at more than $46 million. More than one-third of recipients are children and nearly one-quarter are seniors.

    The IDFA Foundation also coordinated additional donations of milk, yogurt, cheese and other nutritious dairy foods to FIND Food Bank following the conclusion of the IDFA Dairy Forum event in Palm Desert. “Thanks to the generosity of IDFA members, this additional effort will prevent food waste while continuing to address the nutritional needs of Californians,” said Herrick.

    Donors to FIND Food Bank:

    1. Albertsons’ Nourishing Neighbors Program
    2. Chobani
    3. Dairy Farmers of America / DFA Cares Foundation
    4. Danone U.S.
    5. Diversified Foods, Inc. & Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc.
    6. Ever.Ag
    7. Glanbia Dairy Nutrition
    8. Hilmar Cheese Company
    9. Hollandia Dairy
    10. Idaho Milk Products
    11. IDFA Foundation
    12. LALA
    13. Leprino Foods
    14. Pacific Cheese Company
    15. Saputo USA
    16. Schreiber Foods
    17. Select Milk Producers
    18. Shehadey Family Foods, LLC
    19. Tetra Pak

    To learn more about the work of the IDFA Foundation, visit www.idfafoundation.org.

    The IDFA Foundation seeks to make an important contribution to people and communities on behalf of the U.S. dairy industry by providing grants to support individuals and organizations working to advance human health and nutrition, improve environmental stewardship and sustainability, and enhance the welfare of people working in food manufacturing. Established in 1958 as the Dairy Recognition and Education Foundation, today the IDFA Foundation promotes the health and well-being of people, communities, and our planet on behalf of U.S. dairy.