Southwest Florida food pantries need more milk
Fort Myers — That gallon of milk you consider a staple in your refrigerator is missing in Southwest Florida’s food banks. June is National Dairy Month, and the dairy industry has partnered with Feeding America to help get nutritious and much-needed milk to those in need with The Great American Milk Drive.
According to Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, milk is one of the items most requested by food bank clients, yet there is a nationwide shortage because it is rarely donated. Feeding America clients receive the equivalent of less than one gallon of milk per person per year. That will soon change with the recent launch of The Great American Milk Drive, the first-ever national program to help deliver highly desired and nutrient-rich gallons of milk to hungry families who need it most.
With a simple click of a mouse (www.milklife.com/give) or text message (text “Milk” to 27722), it is now possible to buy much-needed milk and donate it for as little as $5 to a family who does not have regular access to milk. By entering your zip code, you can ensure that the milk is provided to a local Feeding America food bank in your very own community.
Hunger impacts 1 in 6 Americans, including 12.5 million families who do not have access to adequate nourishment to help them reach their full potential. Hunger has no boundaries and is a problem that exists in urban, suburban and rural communities. In fact, more than 160,000 people living in Southwest Florida are considered to be “food insecure” by Feeding America.
With its network of more than 200 food banks and 61,000 food pantries, soup kitchens and emergency shelters throughout the country, Feeding America helps provide food to families in need including many in the Southwest Florida.
The Harry Chapin Food Bank solicits, collects and stores quality food for distribution to families in need through a network of more than 150 nonprofit agencies in Lee, Collier, Hendry, Charlotte and Glades counties that provide food to more than 30,000 people monthly. In 2013, the Harry Chapin Food Bank distributed 17.5 million pounds of food, provided 14.6 million meals and turned every $1 into $6 worth of food for those in need.