Dairy steps up to aid Haiti

Several dairy organizations stepped up to donate money and products to assist earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.

• Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), through its DFA Cares Foundation, donated more than 4,500 cases of Sport Shake, in addition to a monetary donation. Sport Shake is a shelf-stable, dairy-based protein drink, was donated through through Convoy of Hope, a charitable organization based in Springfield, Mo., that has infrastructure in place to ensure that supplies are delivered quickly.

Individuals wishing to make a tax-deductible monetary contribution to support Haitian relief efforts may send a check made payable to DFA Cares Foundation (including a notation indicating “Haitian Relief Donation”) to: DFA Cares Foundation, c/o Ron Hilmes, 10220 N. Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153.

The DFA Cares Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization established by DFA to provide disaster relief and assistance to the dairy community and the community at large. The Foundation also oversees DFA’s scholarship program.

• DCI Cheese Co., Richfield, Wis., donated $45,000 to the American Red Cross. This donation represents a $100 contribution made on behalf of each of the company’s 450 associates. DCI Cheese is the largest importer and marketer of specialty cheeses and other restaurant-quality prepared foods in the United States.

• In conjunction with the National Milk Producers Federation, Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross. Cooperatives contributing to CWT include the following organizations:

Agri-Mark Inc.

Arkansas Dairy Cooperative Association

California Dairies Inc.

Conesus Milk Producers Cooperative

Continental Dairy Products, Inc.

Cooperative Milk Producers Association, Inc.

Cortland Bulk Milk Producers Cooperative

Dairy Farmers of America

Dairylea Cooperative Inc.

Empire Keystone Cooperative

Farmers Cooperative Creamery

Foremost Farms USA

Jefferson Bulk Milk Cooperative

Just Jersey Cooperative, Inc.

Land O’ Lakes, Inc.

Lone Star Milk Producers

Lowville Producers Dairy Cooperative Inc.

Manitowoc Milk Producers Cooperative

Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association

Massachusetts Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Inc.

Michigan Milk Producers Association

Mount Joy Farmers Cooperative Association

National Farmers Organization

Northwest Dairy Association

Oneida-Madison Milk Producers Cooperative

Preble Cooperative

St. Albans Cooperative Creamery, Inc.

Schoharie County Cooperative Dairies

Select Milk Producers, Inc.

Snake River Dairyman Association Inc.

South New Berlin Milk Cooperative, Inc.

United Dairy Cooperative Services, Inc.

United Dairymen of Arizona

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc.

Western Tier Milk Producers Cooperative

Zia Milk Producers