Media

Ozarks Food Harvest partners with Hiland Dairy to provide fresh milk to pantries as the Milk to My Plate program begins

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.—This summer, Ozarks Food Harvest and Hiland Dairy began a partnership to provide milk to hunger-relief agencies around the Ozarks at a deep discount. The Milk to My Plate Program delivers milk directly to Ozarks Food Harvest’s partner agencies, giving them the opportunity to provide milk to the families in their area.  The sad truth is that 1 in 5 kids and 1 in 7 adults are food insecure in southwest Missouri.

Many of these agencies were unable to distribute milk to their clients before this program. The rising cost of milk has made it difficult to keep it stocked on their shelves.

“It was just too expensive to go to the grocery store and get it,” said Deanna Monning, president of the Ash Grove Food Pantry board. “We had an awful lot of cereal, but we never had the milk to go with it. With this program, we can provide cereal and milk or milk, eggs, and bacon, and there’s your breakfast.”

With the help of the Milk to My Plate Program, the Ash Grove Food Pantry has distributed 81 half-gallons of milk, yogurt and cottage cheese to their neighbors in their community.

Fourteen agencies have signed up for the program including: Osceola Senior Center, Community Outreach in Nevada, People Helping People in Republic, Crosslines of McDonald County in Anderson, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Billings, Least of These in Nixa, Good Samaritan Shop in Lamar, Ash Grove Food Pantry in Ash Grove, Hickory County Cares in Wheatland, Shepherd’s Nook Food Pantry in Salem, OACAC in Greenfield, Engles Senior Center in Buffalo, Crosslines in Springfield and the Help Center in Neosho.

Over 500 gallons and 4,400 half gallons of milk have been distributed to those in need as well as 200 cases of cottage cheese and 300 cases of yogurt.

“We are pleased to support the efforts of Ozarks Food Harvest through this partnership,” said Rick Beaman, vice president of Hiland Dairy. “The ability to distribute fresh milk at a cost savings to area food pantries will provide fresh food to more families giving them the ability for a healthier and active lifestyle.”

# # #

About Ozarks Food Harvest — The Food Bank

Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, providing food to 270 organizations across 28 Ozarks counties serving 261,000 unduplicated individuals. The Food Bank provides 16.4 million meals annually.

ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.