WEST DES MOINES, IOWA (March 1, 2019) — Today, Hy-Vee Inc announced its commitment to delivering much-needed milk to local food-banks in its eight-state region by partnering with The Great American Milk Drive throughout the month of March. This is the third consecutive year of the companywide partnership.
During the monthlong campaign, every Hy-Vee store will offer customers the opportunity to donate $2 or $4 toward the purchase of milk when they check out. At the end of the month, all donations will be used to purchase milk from area processors to be distributed to local food-banks.
In partnership with Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, MilkPEP and the National Dairy Council, The Great American Milk Drive campaign unites and enables the nation’s food-banks, processors, retailers, and consumers to ensure milk and its essential nutrients, including high-quality protein, are provided to families who need it most. Last March, donations from Hy-Vee customers supplied more than 265,000 gallons of milk.
“Hy-Vee is honored to continue its participation in The Great American Milk Drive to provide even more assistance to help alleviate hunger,” said Randy Edeker, Hy-Vee’s chairman of the board, CEO and president. “Through the generosity of our customers, and with participation from all of Hy-Vee’s 249 stores, our goal is to increase donations and make nutritious milk available to those in need.”
Sponsors for this year’s campaign include Dean Foods, Kraft Heinz, Mondelez International, Hiland Dairy, Kemps, and Anderson Erickson Dairy.
According to Feeding America, there are nearly five million food insecure people in Hy-Vee’s eight-state region, and milk is one of the most requested — yet least available — items in food-banks across the nation. Food bank clients receive less than one gallon of milk per person, per year.
“The Great American Milk Drive offers us all an opportunity to make a meaningful impact for local families throughout our eight-state region,” Edeker said.
Hy-Vee Inc is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 245 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of $10 billion annually. The supermarket chain is synonymous with quality, variety, convenience, healthy lifestyles, culinary expertise, and superior customer service. Hy-Vee ranks in the Top 10 Most Trusted Brands and has been named one of America’s Top 5 favorite grocery stores. The company’s more than 80,000 employees provide “A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle” to customers every day. For additional information, visitwww.hy-vee.com.
About Feeding America
Feeding America is a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46.5 million people through 61,000 food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters in communities across America. For more information, visit FeedingAmerica.org.
About MilkPEP
The Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), Washington, D.C., is funded by the nation's milk companies, who are committed to increasing fluid milk consumption. For more information, visit MilkPep.org.
About National Dairy Council
National Dairy Council® (NDC), the non-profit organization founded by dairy farmers, is committed to nutrition education and research-based communications. For more information, visit NationalDairyCouncil.org.
