(Photo from health.harvard.edu).
This is a press release from the Seven Valleys Health Coalition.
According to planning committee partners, Meghan Henry, dairy farmer, Park Family Farm in Truxton; Christella Yonta, Executive Director, United Way for Cortland County; and Susan Williams, Assistant Director, Seven Valleys Health Coalition, a communitywide dairy distribution has been planned for Cortland County for Monday, May 4th, 2020, 5:00-7:00pm. A wide variety of dairy products including over 2,000 gallons of liquid milk donated by the Dairy Farmers of America and processed by Cornell Dairy will be handed out to families in need at the dairy drive up to be held on the SUNY Cortland campus. The only entrance for the event will be 4 Pashley Drive, Cortland, NY 13045.
“This large collaborative effort came together pretty quickly out of a general willingness to help each other,” said Christella Yonta, United Way Executive Director, “it’s great to see our community be purposeful in our support of local dairy farmers and each other.” Though Yonta, Williams and Henry have spent much time meeting to plan the event, the effort extends far beyond the trio. “This is happening thanks to a long list of individuals, businesses and organizations,” Williams said, “we already knew food pantries had the need and wanted to help fill it while also supporting the farmers in our community.” Henry, who started a Facebook fundraiser for the same purpose, learned through a mutual acquaintance Yonta and Williams were working on a similar effort through the Hunger Coalition, so the three joined forces. Just over a week since it started, Henry’s fundraiser has already surpassed it’s $2,000 goal. Henry plans to donate the proceeds to the United Way for Cortland County’s “Cortland Cares Fund”, which is being matched dollar for dollar up to $25,000 by the Cortland Community Foundation.
Most products for the community distribution have been donated by local producers and extras remaining after the May 4th distribution will be donated to local food pantries. “After seeing surrounding counties rally together to help the farmers and those in need alike, I decided to raise money to donate to Cortland County’s local food pantries to purchase their dairy products, said Henry, “this allows us to provide dairy products to those in need, while recognizing and supporting the dairy industry, and this way the money was doubled thanks to the Community Foundation.” According to Yonta, the United Way plans to use any donations, including Henry’s, specifically earmarked for the dairy drive to purchase a variety of dairy products for local food programs when the current flow of donated dairy eventually dries up. As dairy products are not typical staples of a food pantry, the planning for this distribution represents not just a single event but long-term planning moving forward to help food pantries expand capacity for providing more fresh foods like dairy requiring refrigeration. ASC of SUNY Cortland has been partnering with Seven Valleys to provide cold storage to their new food rescue program as well as local food pantries who are running out of space in their own coolers due to an increased demand from families in need of food locally. ASC will store the extra dairy products until they are distributed to the food pantries after the community distribution. “We’re pleased to be able to join in the efforts to support the greater Cortland community and wish everyone the best,” Jeffrey Scott, Dining Services Director at ASC of SUNY Cortland said.
A map identifying the specific site location is being crafted by a group of local law enforcement spearheaded by the University Police Department, who will be directing the traffic flow into and out of campus and all other event details will soon be shared with the public via the www.211cortland.org/
Dairy Farmers of America and many of the other dairy businesses donating product to the distribution are supporting similar events all over New York State and beyond. "As a farmer-owned cooperative, we are pleased to partner with these community organizations to support the needs of our neighbors and friends," said Jennifer Huson, Senior Director Marketing, Council Affairs and Industry Relations for DFA Northeast. "Our farm families are dedicated to providing nutritious food for the communities where we live and work."
