California Dairy Families Partner with Feeding America to Fund Pilot Project to Deliver 192,000 Pounds of Cheese to Families in Need

Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross Joins June 1 Kickoff, 1,440 Pound Cheese Donation Event at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

 

One in 5 Californians — that’s about 8 million people — currently struggle with food insecurity. California’s dairy farm families are partnering with Feeding America to deliver California cheese to Feeding America and California Association of Food Bank feeding programs throughout the state in a $300,000 pilot initiative called Shredding Hunger. The initiative is part of Real California Milk’s #CADAIRY4GOOD program to increase access to nutritious dairy foods like milk and cheese. Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services is one of 11 food banks throughout the state that will receive cheese for distribution as part of the partnership, which will provide more than $1M in support for hunger initiatives this year.

Event:

Shredding Hunger Kickoff Event, Cheese Donation

Date/Time:

Wed., June 1, 2022, 9:15-9:45 a.m.
Best time for photos: 9:15 a.m.

Location:

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Service

1951 Bell Avenue

Sacramento, CA 95838

Participants:

•  Karen Ross, California Secretary of Agriculture, California Department of Food & Agriculture
• Andy Knowlton, Director of Agri Food Engagement, Feeding America
•  Maria Houlne, Director of Farm to Family, California Association of Food Banks (CAFB)
• Jennifer Giambroni, VP of Communications, California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB)
• Blake Young, President/CEO, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS)

Representatives of all organizations involved will be available for interviews.

Contacts:
Thalia Sillivan, CMAB, (209) 690-8242 or tsillivan@cmab.net
Lauren Lathan Reid, CAFB, (415) 200-9468 or lauren@cafoodbanks.org
Kevin Buffalino, SFBFS, (916) 456-1980 ext. 3422 or kbuffalino@sacramentofoodbank.org

Photo opportunities:
Pallet of cheese shreds, fluid milk in crates, Secretary Ross, group milk toast.

The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB’s programs focus on increasing demand for California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world. Connect with the CMAB at RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.