HARRISBURG, Pa. — The 11th anniversary of the Fill a Glass with Hope® charitable milk distribution program was celebrated at the Pennsylvania Farm Show recently with record-breaking donations of over $205,000. Generous sponsors and Farm Show attendees made it possible. The Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association, which originated the program in 2015, continues to be among the main drivers through its popular milkshake sales. Partnerships were made to multiply distribution efficiency, primarily with Feeding Pennsylvania, a network of food banks.
Food insecurity is at an all-time high and affects neighbors in every county in the Commonwealth. In the last two years, the number of people experiencing food insecurity in Pennsylvania has increased by over 40%. In fact, more than 1.7 million Pennsylvanians, including 475,000 children, experience food insecurity. Together, Feeding Pennsylvania’s nine partner food banks distribute more than 237 million pounds of food through a network of over 2750 pantries and agencies. Since 2015, Feeding Pennsylvania’s member food banks distributed over 42.6 million servings of fresh, locally produced milk to Pennsylvanians who are facing hunger.
Once Feeding Pennsylvania joined the program as a partner, it evolved into the country’s first-ever statewide charitable milk distribution program.
“We’re thrilled to once again come together with our partners and sponsors to amplify the impact of the Fill a Glass with Hope campaign,” said Julie Bancroft, CEO, Feeding Pennsylvania. “This collective effort helps ensure that one of the most requested and nutritious staples — fresh, fluid milk—reaches more individuals, children and families experiencing hunger across the state.”
Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding thanked the vital partners who are working to make sure milk is accessible to all families in the Commonwealth. “Even in a time of uncertainty, one thing that should be certain for every Pennsylvania family is that there will be food on their tables,” he declared.
Dave Smith, executive director of the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association and an original Fill a Glass with Hope partner, expressed his gratitude to dairy farmers, sponsors, food banks and community leaders for keeping hunger prevention and access to fresh milk at the forefront.
“With hunger at an all-time high and families struggling to afford food while covering essential expenses, I am incredibly proud of the remarkable impact our dairy farmers and our partners are making to help Pennsylvanians put food on the table,” Smith said. “We must continue to give back and stand with families, especially hungry children, who are facing food insecurity every day.”
“As a dairy farmer, producing milk is about more than what happens on our farm—it’s about the families we help nourish every day,” said Jim Biddle, Pennsylvania dairy farmer and member of the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program Board. “Programs like Fill a Glass with Hope allow us to turn the care we give our cows and land into care for our communities, ensuring that families across Pennsylvania have access to the fresh, nutritious milk they deserve.”
After the milkshake toast, celebrity milkshake servers from the media welcomed Farm Show visitors as they sampled farm-fresh foods and beverages featured at the show.
