Georgia’s dairy farmers, along with Kroger Atlanta Division and Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), have come together to deliver milk from the farm to the front lines. The new Great Georgia Give campaign will deliver 24,000 half-gallons of local Georgia milk to first responders and health care workers across the Atlanta metro area, according to The Partnership, the Atlanta-based public relations agency that developed and manages the campaign. The four-week campaign will kicks off on April 24 at Centennial Farms in Atlanta.

Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black will deliver the opening remarks and help load half-gallons of local Georgia milk supplied by DFA and Kroger’s Centennial Farms into a refrigerated truck. Donations on April 24 will be made to six Wellstar Health System hospitals, the two Atlanta-based Ronald McDonald Houses and Northside Hospital’s five locations, The Partnership said.

“This incredible show of support to feed and nourish our first responders and families in need with local Georgia milk is the type of action our communities need right now,” said Black. “I am proud of our state’s dairy farmers for giving back and for the continued work they do to provide safe and wholesome milk and dairy foods to our families, even during this crisis.”

The Great Georgia Give is led by Milk on My Mind, a dairy awareness program initiated and funded by Georgia dairy farmers through the Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Commission for Milk and developed and managed by The Partnership. Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. committed to match the milk donations made by Great Georgia Give to increase the support in local communities. The milk donation of 24,000 half-gallons represents $60,000 contributed by Kroger Atlanta Division, Kansas City, Kan.-headquartered DFA and Kroger’s Centennial Farms, The Partnership said.

“Now more than ever, preventing waste in the food chain is crucial,” said Kroger Atlanta Division President Tim Brown. “The Great Georgia Give aligns with Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact plan to end hunger and eliminate waste in our communities by connecting a great product with great heroes.

“We’re excited to support this innovative initiative by matching the contributions of the dairy farmers to provide 24,000 half-gallons of milk to our health care workers and first responders,” he added. “Milk is one of Georgia’s most important agricultural commodities and the Great Georgia Give is ensuring that it is nourishing those who need it.”

Amid the coronavirus crisis, dairy farmers in Georgia have suffered major disruptions in their supply chain, causing milk to have to be discarded, The Partnership noted. The Great Georgia Give will help to ensure Georgia dairy farmers can continue to nourish families and community with safe, wholesome milk.

“Our Georgia dairy farmers are on the front lines producing milk and dairy foods. In parallel, they appreciate the work being done by our health care [workers] and first responders and want to give back,” said Paul Johnson, a Georgia dairy farmer and board chairman of Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Milk. “We appreciate our partners DFA and Kroger for making this contribution possible and extend a thank you to Nicole Duvall with the Georgia Mobile Classroom for delivering the donations on dairy farmers’ behalf.”

In the coming weeks, the remaining 24,000 half-gallons of local Georgia milk will be donated to health care workers and first responders in Augusta, Macon and Savannah, The Partnership said.