Dairy farmers have always cared about helping their communities, but a new initiative to help food-insecure families in Kentucky could not have found its roots during a time of greater need in the Commonwealth. More than 650,000 Kentuckians struggled with food insecurity in 2018, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, even more Kentuckians have found themselves unable to provide enough food for their families. Kentucky Cheese Cares is a partnership between Kentucky dairy farmers and Kroger, making it easier than ever for shoppers to help their neighbors in times of need.
With every purchase of the award-winning Kentucky specialty cheese products from participating Kroger stores, fifty cents is donated to the Feeding Kentucky food bank network. The funds are then used to purchase fresh, Kentucky produced cheese products for the seven food banks in the Feeding Kentucky network, which serve all 120 counties in the state. Dairy foods like cheese provide essential nutrients like calcium and high-quality protein. Hard cheeses, like cheddar or Parmesan, have very little or no lactose at all, making them a good option for people who are lactose intolerant.
Over the last eight months, many people have lost their income, which has forced them to make trade-offs between food and important basic needs, like paying for housing, bills, and medicine. No matter what state you live in, there are millions of people facing hunger throughout our country, many for the first time due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As we enter the holiday season, consider joining the fight against hunger by purchasing delicious cheese for a good cause in Kentucky or by donating dairy foods to your local food bank. Your contribution, no matter how big or small, will help set our communities back on the path to wellness as we enter the new year!
