PENNSYLVANIA — The Fill a Glass with Hope® (FGWH) initiative, a charitable milk distribution program designed to alleviate food insecurity across Pennsylvania, has received a much-needed boost of $135,500 in donations at the annual Feeding Pennsylvania fundraising campaign launch held at the PA Farm Show on Friday.
Among those present to kickstart the campaign were two-time Super Bowl Champion and former NFL quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Charlie Batch; Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, Russell Redding; Julie Bancroft, CEO of Feeding Pennsylvania; Dave Smith, Executive Director of the PA Dairymen’s Association; Lolly Lesher from the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program (PDPP); and John Chrisman from the American Dairy Association North East (ADANE). The event also saw the participation of the PA Dairy Princess Royalty, state, business, and government leaders, sponsors, dairy industry leaders, and leaders from Feeding PA’s member food banks.
Food insecurity is a pressing issue throughout the Commonwealth, with some rural areas having the highest rates of food-insecure households. It’s estimated that more than 1.2 million Pennsylvanians, including 325,000 children, experience food insecurity each year. Through initiatives like FGWH, Feeding Pennsylvania’s nine partner food banks distribute over 164 million pounds of food through a network of more than 2,700 agencies and feeding programs.
“Milk is one of the most requested items at food banks across the state,” Bancroft said. “Fill a Glass with Hope® allows food banks to secure more nutritious and nourishing, protein-rich milk to help Pennsylvanians experiencing hunger thrive.”
Secretary Redding praised the state’s hardworking dairy farmers who constitute the largest segment of Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry and the 5,000 dairy farm families that supply wholesome, nutritious dairy products for consumers, the hungry, and the state’s charitable food system.
Since its inception in 2015, FGWH has evolved into the country’s first statewide charitable fresh milk distribution program. To date, it has supplied over 36 million servings of milk to those in need.
The funds announced on Friday will launch this year’s campaign with donations exceeding $135,500, including $25,000 from Keystone Sponsors Weis Markets and Coterra Energy, Inc. In 2023, Weis Markets raised over $84,000 through their retail round-up at the register program during National Dairy Month, and PA Dairy Princesses also contributed $8,582 to the charitable cause.
“Thanks to Fill a Glass with Hope® and its sponsors, fresh milk is available at food pantries throughout our state. Together, we want to ensure that families, especially children, have essential nutrients to fuel their days,” said Charlie Batch.
The announcement was followed by a milkshake toast and a sampling of farm-fresh foods and beverages offered during the 2024 show. For more information or to make a donation, visit the PA Dairymen’s Association Milkshake Booths at the PA Farm Show or go to www.feedingpa.org/milk.
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