With millions of people in the Southwest still struggling in the aftermath of recent winter storms, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), a Kansas City, Kan.-based dairy cooperative of farm families, said it will donate $50,000 through its DFA Cares Foundation to Southwest food banks and Feeding Texas to help with relief and recovery efforts.

“As farmers, we work hard each and every day to help make food for our local communities,” said Larry Hancock, a dairy farmer from Muleshoe, Texas, and a member of DFA’s board of directors. “It’s important to help others out, and I’m incredibly proud that our cooperative is helping to feed individuals and families who are facing tough times from this storm.”

Last spring, as Americans faced unprecedented hardships and demand for food skyrocketed as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, DFA launched its DFA Cares Farmers Feeding Families Fund. It was created to help raise money and deliver dairy products to community food banks across the country. To date, the Farmers Feeding Families Fund has raised more than $675,000, DFA said, thanks to generous donations from DFA farmer-owners, employees and industry partners, and has supported rural and community food banks and pantries throughout the Southwest.

“The pandemic already pushed more Texans than ever to access food assistance from food banks. But the need is even higher as we strive to help Texas families recover from the impact of the recent winter storms,” said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas. “We are grateful for DFA’s support in helping Texas food banks keep their communities nourished through this crisis.”

For more information about DFA’s Farmers Feeding Families Fund or to make a donation, go to dfamilk.com/our-commitment/dfa-cares.