September is Hunger Action Month and this year, the dairy industry is coming together to raise awareness of the need for nutritious milk and dairy products in food banks and for kids facing hunger. This according to Natalie Metzger of the PR firm speaking for MilkPEP.

Now more than ever, food banks are relying on donations due to an increased need amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, many milk brands and dairy organizations have already made donations to support food banks in local communities.

This month and throughout the fall, the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), GENYOUth, the California Milk Processor Board (CMPB) and the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) are rallying the industry to support Feeding America and kids and families in need through the following initiatives:

1. MilkPEP’s #GotMilkDanceChallenge: got milk? will be donating $100,000 to Feeding America to help get milk to kids and families in need. MilkPEP is teaming up with music and dance influencers for the #GotMilkDanceChallenge, encouraging their fans to join them in dancing and helping raise awareness of the need for kids to have access to milk this school year.
2. DMI’s “Raising Gallons” Video:To kick-off September Hunger Action Month, DMI debuted the “Raising Gallons” video. The video shows the dairy community and partners literally raising gallons to support efforts to feed communities, encouraging donations online at com/give.
3. GENYOUth’s COVID-19 Emergency School Meal Fund:Since many students are beginning the school year remote, kids are missing out on nutritious school meal programs. To help the 1 in 4 kids living in food insecurity, GENYOUth is delivering 175 Grab and Go breakfast meal carts in 30 states to ensure schools have equipment they need for Grab and Go meal services. Consumers can visit GENYOUthNow/donate or text SCHOOLS to 20222 to make a $25 donation to help “Put School Meals in the Bag.”
4. CMPB and CMAB’s #FoodForThought Campaign: CMPB and CMAB launched the #FoodForThought campaign with Feeding America and the help of actors Matt Bomer and Jaime Camil to provide 1 million meals and 1 million servings of milk to feeding programs throughout California throughout September. For every post or engagement on Instagram tagging @gotmilk and #FoodForThought through September 30, a donation will be made to Feeding America toward the goal of 1 million meals, which include nutritious foods like milk.