Milk is one of the most requested items at food banks, yet it is rarely donated.
Families experiencing food insecurity in our communities are missing out on the essential nutrients milk provides. Through Fill a Glass with Hope, Feeding Pennsylvania and industry partners, American Dairy Association North East and Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association, are working to change those circumstances by raising awareness and connecting food banks with local milk suppliers.
The nation’s first-ever statewide charitable milk program, Fill a Glass with Hope provides a means for Feeding Pennsylvania’s food banks to purchase milk at a discounted price directly from area processors to distribute at no cost to families facing hunger. Funds are raised through grants, corporate sponsors and individual donors who share our mission of making fresh, nutritious Pennsylvania milk accessible to everyone.
First piloted by the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in 2015, Fill a Glass with Hope launched statewide at the 100th PA Farm Show on January 8th, 2016. Each of our member food banks became licensed as a charitable milk sub-dealer by the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing board, thus allowing them to purchase milk from dairies at a reduced price. That reduced price is further subsidized by grants, corporate sponsors, and individual donors who share our goal in providing fresh milk to Pennsylvanians throughout the state who are facing hunger.
Thanks to our generous supporters, including sponsors, organizations and individual donors, Fill a Glass with Hope has distributed more than 36 million servings of fresh milk to Pennsylvanians facing hunger since 2015 via Feeding Pennsylvania’s network of food banks, pantries, agencies, shelters, and feeding programs.
Help us celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Fill a Glass with Hope at the 2025 Pennsylvania Farm Show! Sponsorship opportunities that help to support Pennsylvania dairy farmers and Pennsylvanians facing hunger are now available. Sponsorship registrations will close on December 4, 2024. For more information, contact Feeding Pennsylvania Community Relations Manager Erin Haafke at [email protected].
Financial contributions made to Feeding Pennsylvania enable the purchase of milk at a discounted price to distribute to those in need as well as cover operation costs associated with distributing fresh milk. Operational costs vary across the Feeding Pennsylvania network.
