CINCINNATI, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger
Family of Companies (NYSE: KR) today announced the launch of an
expanded Dairy Rescue Program, designed to support children and
families during the COVID-19 pandemic through the summer months. In
partnership with its dairy cooperative suppliers and farmers across
the Midwest and South, Kroger will process and donate about 200,000
gallons of additional milk to Feeding America® food
banks and community organizations through the end of August,
uplifting its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative.
"Kroger recognizes the growing need for fresh, highly nutritious
food in our community, especially for children as schools remain
closed during the pandemic to flatten the curve," said Erin Sharp, Kroger's group vice president of
manufacturing. "At a time when dairy farmers have surplus raw milk,
we're doubling down on our mission to reduce hunger and waste."
The Dairy Rescue Program is expanding on an existing partnership
model between Kroger and its dairy cooperative suppliers to direct
even more fluid milk — one of the most requested but harder to
stock items at food banks — to food-insecure communities. Through
the expanded program, during the pandemic dairy cooperatives will
donate surplus milk normally sold to restaurants, schools and
hotels, while Kroger will donate the processing and packaging of
the donated milk. Additionally, in some areas, Kroger's logistics
team will also donate the transportation of the milk to local food
banks.
"As the COVID-19 pandemic has forced businesses like restaurants
and hotels across the country to close, some of America's farmers
are left without buyers for their dairy supply," said Heather J. McCann, director of public affairs
for Dairy Farmers of America's Mideast Area. "Kroger's Dairy Rescue
Program is an invaluable resource for the dairy industry during
this crisis and beyond, helping distribute and process surplus milk
to communities who need it the most."
The expansion of Kroger's Dairy Rescue Program builds on the
existing partnerships with the Michigan Milk Producers Association
and Dairy Farmers of America, which already donate a combined
129,900 gallons throughout the year. Through the expanded program,
Kroger's dairy processing plants and suppliers will be donating an
additional 50,000 gallons of milk per month to local food banks and
community organizations. Feeding America member food banks and
other partners will help transport the gallons and half-gallons to
local hunger relief agencies.
From May through August, four of Kroger's manufacturing
facilities will process the rescued milk to benefit several food
bank organizations and communities:
- Tamarack Farms in partnership with Dairy Farmers of America
will donate milk to benefit the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, YMCA Van Buren,
and the Salvation Army in Columbus,
OH; New Beginnings in Youngstown,
OH; and the West Ohio Food Bank in Lima, OH.
- Kroger Michigan Dairy in partnership with Michigan Milk
Producers Association will donate rescued milk to Michigan food banks supported by Food Bank
Council of Michigan.
- Winchester Farms Dairy in partnership with Dairy Farmers of
America will donate milk to benefit Feeding America Kentucky's
Heartland in Elizabethtown, KY;
Dare to Care in Louisville, KY;
God's Pantry Food Bank in Lexington,
KY; and the Freestore Foodbank in Cincinnati, OH. Transportation will be donated
by Penske Logistics.
- Vandervoort's Dairy in partnership with Select Milk Producers
will donate milk to benefit the Tarrant Area Food Bank in
Fort Worth, TX and the Houston
Food Bank in Houston, TX.
Transportation will be donated by Quickway Carriers.
The program is further enhanced by Kroger's Centennial Dairy
partnership in Atlanta, GA with
Dairy Farmers of America, to direct 24,000 half-gallons of milk to
support health care workers and first responders in Augusta, Macon and Savannah,
GA during the pandemic over the next month. Kroger kicked
off the Great Georgia Give milk donation campaign in Metro
Atlanta last week with Georgia
Commissioner of Agriculture Gary W. Black.
"With so many families struggling with unemployment and food
insecurity today, providing access to fresh, nutrient-rich milk has
never been more important," said Blake
Thompson, chief supply chain officer, Feeding America.
"Kroger's Dairy Rescue Program is keeping America's farmers
productive, avoiding unnecessary food waste, and helping families
in need."
To download milk donation photography, visit here.
About The Kroger Co.
At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are Fresh for Everyone™ and
dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit®. We are, across
our family of companies, nearly half a million associates who serve
over 11 million customers daily through a seamless shopping
experience under a variety of banner names. We are committed to
creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more
about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.
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SOURCE The Kroger Co.