Price Chopper/Market 32 is joining forces with American Dairy Association North East in support of Fill a Glass with Hope® to provide fresh milk to local food banks.

Price Chopper stores are located in Potsdam, Canton, Gouverneur, Massena and Ogdensburg.

With early school closures and economic hardship facing many families due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the needs of our communities have never been greater and feeding our families has never been more important, Price Chopper/Market 32 said in a press release. Summer is generally a difficult time for food insecure families when more than 18 million children nationwide lose access to free or reduced-price meals at schools, including the nourishment of milk. However, many families are already struggling to provide for their children, and food banks are stretched thin.

During June, National Dairy Month, shoppers at Price Chopper/Market 32 stores across New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Vermont can ‘round up’ their change at checkout to donate and help make milk available to children and families in their local community.

“Price Chopper/Market 32 recognizes that due to its perishable nature, milk remains the most requested but least donated item to food banks,” said Mona Golub, VP Public Relations & Consumer Services for the progressive Northeastern chain. “Our year-round commitment to fighting food insecurity also helps us to recognize the importance of taking a different tact during the summertime given that kids are out of school, but still playing, learning, and growing and needing the essential, protein-rich nutrients that milk provides.”

Price Chopper says 100% of all donations will remain local and help deliver gallons of milk to families with children in need in our communities.

Mark Quandt, Executive Director of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, said, “We thank Price Chopper/Market 32, American Dairy Association North East, Commissioner Ball, Garelick Farms, and New York State’s dairy producers for their continued commitment to the Fill a Glass with Hope® campaign to raise awareness with both the food industry and consumers, and to help food banks provide more fresh milk for families in need. Over the past ten weeks, the Regional Food Bank's distribution has increased more than 55%, and we have provided 9,886,000 meals to people in need who receive assistance from the 1,000 non-profit programs we serve in 23 counties. Families are more challenged with children home from school, so having a consistent supply of milk is more important than ever before.”

Not only do dairy products like milk play an important role in providing key nutrients, with more than 4,000 dairy farms throughout New York, the industry is also essential to the state’s economy.

“As we all adjust to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to support our dairy farmers, put nutritious food on our tables, and lend a helping hand to our neighbors in need,” said New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball. “Donating to the Fill a Glass with Hope® campaign will do just that. We encourage everyone to buy a gallon of milk and make a donation to this great cause during Dairy Month.”