![Southeast Dairy Association - Kentucky Hunger Initiative - Commissioner Quarles](https://thedairyalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/08.29.2017-Commissioner-Quarles.jpg")
Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles speaks to a crowd in Mayfield, Ky. on Aug. 29.[/caption]
KENTUCKY (Multiple Locations) – The Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, Inc. (SUDIA) was among several food, agriculture, and aid organizations celebrating the donation this month of 156 new freezers to local food pantries across Kentucky. The freezers—donated by Louisville, Ky.-based Farm Credit Mid-America and Colorado-based CoBank—were secured by the Kentucky Hunger Initiative, a task force of Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles to combat food-insecurity issues throughout the state.
The Kentucky Hunger Initiative, along with the Kentucky Association of Food Banks (KAFB), organized a series of press conferences to call attention to the statewide effort. The conferences took place at God’s Pantry Food Bank in Winchester (Aug. 14), Dare to Care Food Bank in Louisville (Aug. 23), and Purchase Area Development District Food Warehouse in Mayfield (Aug 29).
SUDIA, which addresses food insecurity in Kentucky and across the southeast region through Fuel Up to Play 60, the Great American Milk Drive and other programs, sits on the board of Kentucky Hunger Initiative.
Kentucky Hunger Initiative board member and SUDIA Nutrition Affairs Program Manager Laura Marbury said the donation of freezers would better equip Kentucky food pantries to store and distribute fresh foods, including nutrient-rich milk, cheese, and yogurt products.
“Milk is one of the most requested and least available items at food pantries,” said Marbury. “During board meetings, it was recognized that many food banks have difficulty with cold storage capacity. This generous donation of freezers will accommodate cold storage at food banks across the state, giving more food-insecure families access to protein and nutrient-rich foods like milk, cheese, and yogurt.
“We’re extremely pleased with the difference this donation will make in our community,” Marbury added.
“Our organization works hard to provide healthy food to citizens throughout Kentucky,” said Tamara Sandberg, executive director of the KAFB. “Farm Credit has been a long-time supporter of our Farms to Food Banks program, a program that directs fresh produce to food banks, and has been a wonderful partner in the fight against hunger in Kentucky. This additional gift is an example of the private sector working with the public sector to make a measurable and meaningful impact in the communities they serve.”
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About Southeast Dairy Association On behalf of dairy farm families, the non-profit Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, Inc. (SUDIA) works with schools, health professionals, retailers, dairy processors and the public to promote dairy foods.