Through its DFA Cares Farmers Feeding Families Fund, DFA is donating much-needed commercial refrigeration to community food pantries in 20 states and keeping them stocked with milk through the end of the year.

Food insecurity continues to be a significant problem in the United States with millions of people facing hunger each year. The coronavirus pandemic has caused even more families to struggle, as Feeding America, with its more than 200 affiliates across the country, estimates that 42 million people, including 13 million children, may be food insecure due to the pandemic.

To help families struggling with hunger, DFA and its farm-family owners are donating 21 refrigerators and the equivalent of more than 225,000 servings of milk to local food pantries across its seven regional areas throughout the United States.

“Our farm families are deeply rooted in their local communities, and we know that hunger exists in each and every area that our cooperative serves,” said Jackie Klippenstein, DFA senior vice president of government, industry and community relations.

“We launched this refrigeration program last year, as milk is one of the most highly requested items at food pantries, yet many don’t have the cold storage to keep it and other perishable items stocked up. By helping provide long-term infrastructure improvements with refrigeration, we can help ensure that our neighbors in need have access to nutrient-rich milk and other dairy products.”

Since its inception in 2020, DFA’s Farmers Feeding Families Fund has raised $740,000 and positively impacted 500 communities. To date, the fund has donated the equivalent of 24 million servings of milk to food banks and pantries across the country.