Dairy good deeds
Michigan Milk Producers, Kroger deliver 12,000 gallons of milk to help Flint families
The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan to distribute milk to those impacted by water crisis.
(From left): Ken McClure, The Kroger Co. of Michigan; William Kerr, Food Bank of Eastern Michigan; Dr. Jeff Dwyer, Michigan State University Extension; Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, MD, MPH, Pediatric Public Health Initiative, Hurley Children's Hospital and Michigan State University; Ken Nobis, Michigan Milk Producers Association.
Ken Nobis, President of the Michigan Milk Producers Association said in a statement, “I appreciate all those who came together to make this effort possible, especially The Kroger Co. of Michigan, and I’m proud of our dairy farm families who produced the milk here in Flint today.
“Kroger thanks our customers, associates, and partners for their generosity thus far, and encourages them to stay with us as we shift focus toward additional efforts to provide nutrient-rich foods, as well as funding," Ken McClure, Customer Communication Manager for the Kroger Co. of Michigan said.
A dairy cooperative and a retailer delivered 12,000 gallons of fresh milk to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan on Friday for distribution to families impacted by the lead-contaminated water in Flint’s municipal water supply.
The Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA), The Kroger Co. of Michigan and the Pediatric Public Health Initiative cooperated in the effort. The Pediatric Public Health Initiative is a joint venture between Michigan State University and Hurley Children’s Hospital to address the Flint community’s population-wide exposure to lead.
Foods rich in calcium, iron, and vitamin C, including calcium-rich dairy products, can help protect children and families from the harmful effects of lead poisoning, according to a press release issued by the parties.
The donated milk was produced by members of MMPA, a dairy farmer-owned cooperative based in Novi, Mich. The Kroger Co. of Michigan led processing of the milk and packaging into gallon jugs, and Quickway Carriers transported the milk to Flint. The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan will distribute the milk to their network of partner agencies.
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