YOUR DAIRY PROMOTION AT WORK IN MICHIGAN

Inspiring others to buy milk: A driving force for Michigan dairy

The United Dairy Industry of Michigan’s (UDIM) work with Michigan’s food banks and grocers has helped lay the foundation for sustainable, long-term commitments to milk sales through matching initiatives, improved infrastructure and nutrition education. The program inspires shoppers and food banks to buy milk for those in need.

UDIM’s mission is to build trust in and sales of dairy foods. Ensuring food banks purchase milk and have it available helps keep dairy in households when people are struggling to make ends meet.

In Michigan one in six people and one in five children are food insecure, they do not know where their next meal is coming from. Eighty percent of people who visit food pantries are working. They typically are having a rough financial period and have to chose between an unexpected bill and food. “We want to keep people in the habit of using milk so that when they do have funds to buy groceries again, they continue to view milk as an essential part of their life,” said Sharon Toth, CEO of UDIM.

Over the past five years, UDIM has partnered with the seven Michigan food banks to change the landscape of how milk is distributed and increase the amount of milk available to food bank clients. There has been dramatic growth in milk purchased by these food banks due to improved nutrition education, efficiency in transportation operations, new coolers at food pantries and more streamlined milk purchasing processes.

UDIM’s “Milk Match” program has been a big part of that growth. UDIM matches a portion of the funds raised by donors, helping them know their contributions are making a bigger impact on families across the state. Six Michigan food banks

have taken part so far, each with a unique approach to raising money for milk purchases.

At a spring fundraiser last year, Greater Lansing Food Bank gave sponsors the option to round up 10% for the purchase of more fresh milk.

Eastern Michigan Food Bank kicked off their first ever milk fundraiser in September with “squishy cows” that raised donations for milk purchases.

UDIM’s partnership with Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan is a prime example. In 2015, the food bank purchased a single truckload of milk per month. Over the years, a revamped logistics framework boosted milk distribution capabilities. Gleaners now purchases over eight truckloads per month through USDA-purchased milk and fundraising. In 2019, the food bank provided an estimated 500,000 gallons of milk to Michigan families and will continue this commitment in 2020. In response to Gleaners’ increased demand for milk, UDIM sponsored a refrigerated truck to assist milk deliveries to their locations.

As UDIM’s partnerships with Michigan food banks continues to strengthen, so does the state’s milk distribution network and demand for dairy, opening the door for more milk sales in the future.

“Creating relationships with food banks builds trust that Michigan’s dairy farmers are great partners in providing high quality milk. It helps food banks see dairy’s value and encourages them to invest in distributing milk,” said Cortney A-Boes Freeland, Manager, Education and Community Partnerships at UDIM.

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