FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2020
CONTACT:
Rebecca Egsieker
(770) 842-2046
During this time of need, farmers find solutions to feed hungry residents
Madison, Georgia (April 27, 2020) – As our world continues to deal with the global pandemic of COVID-19, those impacted by school closures and job loss need the help of local communities now more than ever. On any given day, one in five children and one in seven adults struggle with hunger in Georgia.
In an effort to help bridge the hunger gap and get nourishment to those who need it the most, the Morgan County Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers, in partnership with Kroger’s Centennial Farms and The Dairy Alliance, helped provide 216 gallons of whole milk to The Madison-Morgan Caring Place food pantry.
“We saw a need in our community for milk while most of the local food banks didn’t have access to it,” stated local dairy farmer & Young Farmer and Rancher member Jay Moon. “The Young Farmers group reached out to a couple of organizations to see if we could provide a nutrient-rich product to members of our community. As a dairy farmer in Morgan County, it’s exciting to see some of the milk that our cows produced go to help nourish families in our community.”
The Morgan County Young Farmers and Ranchers group saw a need for nutrient-rich milk in their community and wanted to somehow share it. Originally sparking this idea, Jay Moon with Moon Dairy, then put a plan in place to implement the initiative, working with The Dairy Alliance and Kroger’s Centennial Farms. Kroger’s Centennial Farms agreed to donate after seeing the value of the Young Farmers’ Group initiative and how it aligns with Kroger’s own Zero Hunger Zero Waste social impact plan. The Young Farmers group also continues working with other organizations to get additional food products donated to local food banks and help community members in need.
Located in Madison, GA, The Madison-Morgan Caring Place has played a huge role in serving the food insecure families of Morgan County since the organization’s opening in 1997.
“We are living in a community that supports families when they are in need,” said Nancy Pluckhahn, volunteer director of The Madison-Morgan Caring Place. “Milk is the number one most requested item at food banks, and we are beyond thankful for the Young Farmers group helping to secure milk for our community”.
Dairy continues to be safe and nutritionally vital to both our diets and our economy during this unprecedented time. Like every other day of the year, local dairy farm families are working hard to make sure the milk their cows are producing gets to the processors and then to retailers for consumers to purchase with confidence.
Local Morgan County dairy farmer, Jay Moon, helps stock the cooler with donated whole milk at The Madison-Morgan Caring Place food pantry.
Standing together in the stocked cooler with donated whole milk are (from left to right) Jessica Lance, Rachel Kinsaul, and Jay Moon.
About The Dairy Alliance
On behalf of dairy farm families, The Dairy Alliance, a non-profit, works with schools, health professionals, retailers, dairy processors and the public to promote dairy foods. For more information, visit thedairyalliance.com.
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