by Monica Palmer
I love watching my kids drink milk.
I’m sure if you did a brain scan as I watch my son and daughter gulp down cups of ice cold milk, the scan would show my pleasure centers twinkling like stars. Maybe some future research group will come out with a study about the evolutionary reasons women experience positive emotion when their offspring ingest milk. Personally, I just think I like seeing my children enjoy something I know is good for them. Plus, the milk mustache is always good for a smile.
When I first started working for Missouri Food Bank Association, I wanted to learn everything about the food banking world. I was particularly interested in visiting some of the front-line agencies where the food actually makes it into the hands of the men, women and children who need it. On one of my first visits to a pantry, I was profoundly touched by a little boy’s giddy reaction to the half-gallon of milk his family received in their food bag. He was so excited.
At that point, I didn’t realize what a special treat milk is for food pantry clients. Soon, I learned that milk is a precious commodity which pantries have to distribute carefully. At that particular pantry, only families with children receive milk, and only then until the supply runs out…which it always does.
As a donated food item, milk poses some logistical problems because of expiration dates and refrigeration requirements. Because of this, our food banks in Missouri don’t see a lot of milk in the barrels at food drives.
Bob Aiken, the CEO of our national organization Feeding America, reports “We serve 37 million Americans each year through our network of food banks but, unfortunately, our clients receive the equivalent of less than one gallon of milk per person per year.”
Nutritionists say most people need three servings of dairy each day to be healthy. For people who rely heavily on food pantries, it’s not likely they will meet that goal. We’d like to assume that food pantry clients are buying milk for themselves. In reality, people who are stretching their budgets to the limit often choose to spend the few dollars they have for groceries on the least expensive and most filling foods. Milk generally doesn’t make that cut.
I don’t know about your grocery cart, but mine includes three gallons of milk every week. We are truly a milk-fueled family. I can’t imagine the backlash I’d get if I told my son he couldn’t have a second cup of milk at dinner. That said, I feel a pang of guilt knowing there’s another little boy whose half-gallon of milk ran out a week ago, and he’s eagerly looking forward to the next pantry visit in two weeks to see if his family will win the milk lottery again.
You and I can do something to help increase that little boy’s chances of receiving milk at his food pantry.
The Great American Milk Drive was launched this week, and because of a partnership between Feeding America and the nation’s milk companies and dairy farmers, you can easily buy a gallon of milk for a family in need. Simply visit milklife.com/give to donate securely online or text the word “MILK” to 27722.
Your donations across our state will provide milk for one or more of the 1,029,000 families served by Missouri food banks.
Give someone fuel for a better life. Give milk.