US School Kids May Be Missing Their Milk Say Campaigners

1 in 8 people struggle with hunger in the U.S. Feeding America is a hunger relief organization with a nationwide network of food banks feeding the hungry. They are battling many of the same problems as in Europe. 

One out of two kids ages 9 and up fall short on calcium, vitamin D and potassium – essential nutrients they need to grow strong.1 And when school lets out for summer, that risk may be even greater for over 22 million kids who are served by free or reduced-price meal programs during the school year. For many kids in need, even basic staples like milk and the critical nutrients it provides are missing.   

Milk is the top food source for calcium, vitamin D and potassium.2 That’s why Feeding America®, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization – alongside America’s dairy farmers and milk companies – is working to pour more milk for kids in need this June for National Dairy Month. The Great American Milk Drive makes it easy for consumers to donate nutrient-rich milk to local children and families who face hunger. 

With eight grams of protein per serving and three of the top nutrients most likely to be missing in kids’ diet—calcium, vitamin D and potassium— milk is an efficient and affordable way for America’s feeding programs to get critical nourishment to kids and families who need it. 

Although some programs like the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program help to provide meals when school is not in session, the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program do not reach children during the summer months.  

“At Feeding America, they know that fresh milk is a challenging item to donate. But they also also know milk is one of the most requested items among families and individuals served in our network,” said Andy Wilson, Chief Development Officer at Feeding America. “Thanks to our work with The Great American Milk Drive, we have a way to help families in need pour more milk for their children, helping to ensure they have the nutrients they need to thrive.”

Deliver Nutrient-Rich Milk Right in Your Own Community 

Since 2014, Feeding America has partnered with The Great American Milk Drive to help deliver milk to its nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs. Through this first-of-its kind program, more than 1.5 million gallons – that’s more than 24 million servings – of milk have been delivered to food banks. Yet, there’s still more to do. 

Image: US School children 

While consumers are generous with canned foods and dry goods, food banks are only able to provide the equivalent of less than one gallon of milk per person, per year. 

“Milk can be harder to donate because it’s perishable, which is why this program is so critical in helping to ensure that all kids have the nutrients they need to grow and develop,” said Victor Zaborsky, Vice President of Marketing for MilkPEP. “America’s milk brands and dairy families are committed to solving hunger in our communities, and together, with The Great American Milk Drive, have set a goal of providing 50 million servings of fresh nutrient-rich milk to kids and families served by Feeding America by 2020.” 

This Dairy Month – and all summer long – The Great American Milk Drive makes it easy to deliver fresh milk, including its nine essential nutrients, to help power the simple joys of summer for kids and families. For as little as $5 at milklife.com/give, you can deliver a gallon of fresh milk to a family in need right in your own community.

About Feeding America

Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, they provide meals to more than 46 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people they serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can all solve hunger they say. 

About MilkPEP

MilkPEP, Washington, D.C., is funded by the nation's milk companies, who are committed to educating consumers about the many nutritious benefits of milk and ensuring all children have access to fresh, wholesome milk. The MilkPEP Board runs marketing programs, including  Milk Life, a multi-faceted campaign highlighting the important role milk plays in helping families reach their full potential, Milk It! a campaign for kids built around their love of milk, and Built with Chocolate Milk, which inspires athletes to perform at their best and recover with lowfat chocolate milk. For more information, go to milklife.com and builtwithchocolatemilk.com.

About National Dairy Council

National Dairy Council® (NDC), the non-profit organization founded by dairy farmers, is committed to nutrition education and research-based communications. NDC provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier nation, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media. Established in 1915, NDC comprises a staff of registered dietitians and nutrition research and communications experts across the country. NDC is committed to promoting child health and wellness through programs such as Fuel Up to Play 60. Developed by NDC and the National Football League (NFL), Fuel Up to Play 60 encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. For more information, visit www.NationalDairyCouncil.org.

ABC Note: For more than 35 years, Feeding America has responded to the hunger crisis in America by providing food to people in need through a nationwide network of food banks. 

The concept of food banking was developed by John van Hengel in Phoenix, AZ in the late 1960s. Van Hengel, a retired businessman, had been volunteering at a soup kitchen trying to find food to serve the hungry. One day, he met a desperate mother who regularly rummaged through grocery store garbage bins to find food for her children. She suggested that there should be a place where, instead of being thrown out, discarded food could be stored for people to pick up—like the way “banks” store money for future use. With that, an industry was born.

Van Hengel established St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix, AZ as the nation’s first food bank. In its initial year, van Hengel and his team of volunteers distributed 275,000 pounds of food to people in need. Word of the food bank’s success quickly spread, and states began to take note. By 1977, food banks had been established in 18 cities across the country.

Today, Feeding America is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization—a powerful and efficient network of 200 food banks across the country. As food insecurity rates hold steady at the highest levels ever, the Feeding America network of food banks has risen to meet the need. We feed 46 million people at risk of hunger, including 12 million children 

Video: Hunger in America