Milk donation impacts fight against hunger

GENEVA, Ill. — A generous donation of whole and lactose-free milk to local food banks will impact the lives of thousands of Illinois families.

In celebration of National Dairy Month in June, a combined 34,848 servings of milk have been donated to the Northern Illinois Food Bank, Central Illinois Foodbank and Eastern Illinois Foodbank, by the Illinois Milk Producers Association.

The donation was made in partnership with Prairie Farms, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Soybean Association, St. Louis District Dairy Council and Midwest Dairy.

“This is a perfect example of how companies can work together to help people in need,” said Mark Tolene, Prairie Farms division manager. “There’s a lot of people in need, and when you talk to farmers, they’re the first ones to come and help.”

It is important, Tolene said, for everyone to be able to enjoy milk.

“This is exciting news that we brought the first batch we ran at our plant of lactose-free milk to offer to families who may or may not know they are lactose intolerant,” he said.

“This is an event that’s fun to come to because you know you’re doing something good for the community,” said Mark Tuttle, an IMPA board member and farmer from Somonauk.

“I want to express my heartfelt thanks for this wonderful donation,” said Julie Yurko, president and CEO at the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

“We know when kids don’t have access to enough nutritious food, it affects their mental and physical health,” she said. “Milk is crucial for a nutrient-rich diet and essential for helping kids grow and stay healthy.”

Milk is one of the most requested foods at pantries, Yurko said.

“I was at a food pantry last week and the last thing our families got as they were shopping was a gallon of milk,” she said. “The feeling of handing that gallon of milk to a mom and her child fills your heart and soul.”

The need for food donations at the Northern Illinois Food Bank continues to grow.

“For the last three months, we have served on average 600,000 people every month and it was 570,000 people earlier this year,” the food bank president said. “Last year it was 460,000 people per month and pre-pandemic that number was 297,000 people.”

Unfortunately, at the same time, Yurko said, contributions to the food back are down.

“We are trying to figure out how we can continue to be as impactful as possible while we don’t have enough to give to our neighbors, who don’t have enough,” she said.

“One way to solve that is to rely on the goodness of others, folks making generous donations and partners like you because when you get involved, good things happen,” the food bank president said. “Thank you for reminding me that we’re not alone in our fight against hunger.”

“One of my proudest moments was when we dedicated the Northern Illinois Food Bank as a new partner in our community,” said Kevin Burns, mayor of Geneva, who has lived in the town for 50 years.

“I know the vital connection between generosity and neighbors empowered,” Burns said. “It’s not just about money — it’s also about product, good neighbors, faith and the confidence in the donations you make that Julie and her team will use that product in such a way that helps neighbors who are in need.”

Geneva is a unique community, the mayor said.

“We tend to think we are absent of struggles, but we’re not,” he said. “Because we have high net-worth individuals, that doesn’t mean we don’t also have high-risk people who are hungry.”

Burns thanked those at the food pantry for the important work they do on a daily basis.

“Thank you to the milk producers, Prairie Farms and the Farm Bureau for your generosity that means a great deal,” he said. “The impact is real and I know this donation is going to make a difference in the lives of kids and adults who need it the most.”