King Kullen partners with dairy trade group to provide milk to Long Island Cares
As Long Island goes back to school, King Kullen wants to ask you for milk money.
King Kullen is partnering with American Dairy Association North East to raise funds for their ‘Fill a Glass with Hope’ program throughout September, known as Hunger Action Month.
From now through Monday, Sept. 30, the supermarket is encouraging its customers to donate $1, $3 or $5 at checkout to help make milk available to children and families in their local community via Long Island Cares.
“King Kullen is a longtime supporter of Long Island Cares,” said Tracey Cullen, senior vice president of company operations and Long Island Cares board member. “Twice a week, food is collected at nearly all of our King Kullen stores and all Wild by Nature stores and delivered to Long Island Cares’ headquarters and satellite facilities. During Hunger Action Month, we’re focusing on raising money for nutrient-rich milk to help fill a void at food banks.”
According to Long Island Cares, an estimated 221,000 people on Long Island, including 65,000 children, are food insecure. About 40% of food-insecure Long Island households are above the poverty level but don’t make enough to keep up with the high cost of living in Nassau and Suffolk counties, making them ineligible for nutrition assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
“Milk is one of the most requested items at food banks, but one of the least donated due to its perishability,” says Robert LaBarbara, Long Island Cares vice president for procurement and supply chain oversight. “Without milk in the diet, it is difficult to get the recommended essential nutrients for health. Milk is the top source of calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D in the American diet – nutrients critical to development and growth in children.”
Fill a Glass with Hope is a joint effort between the American Dairy Association North East, dairy farmers, agriculture partners and business leaders to help provide fresh milk to families in need through a network of local food banks. Since its inception, the program has distributed more than 36 million servings of fresh milk through a network of pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and feeding programs.
“On behalf of dairy farmers throughout the Northeast, we are grateful to corporations like King Kullen who can partner with us and use their resources to make a difference,” says John Chrisman, CEO American Dairy Association North East. “As shoppers purchase a gallon of milk during September, we urge them to consider their neighbors in need and donate to Fill A Glass With Hope at checkout.”
