In recognition of National Dairy Month, the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) and Raley’s Food For Families have launched a collaborative effort to deliver milk and dairy foods to families across California experiencing food insecurity. This marks the third consecutive year of the initiative, aimed at addressing the nutritional needs of over 3 million California households currently struggling with consistent access to food.
Throughout the month of June, California Dairy Families, operating through the CMAB, will match donations made by customers to Raley’s Food For Families program. These donations, whether made in-store or online, will be matched dollar for dollar up to US$ 35,000. The matched contributions will go toward providing California-produced dairy products to food banks and feeding programs throughout the state. In-store signage and digital communication tools will feature the “Do Good with Dairy” message, encouraging shoppers to participate in the initiative.
This collaboration is part of CMAB’s Real California Milk CADAIRY4GOOD initiative and aligns with Raley’s Food For Families’ mission to alleviate hunger by providing nutritious food to those in need. The joint campaign continues to emphasize the importance of dairy as a source of nourishment and affordability for vulnerable communities.
“The California Department of Food and Agriculture is proud to be part of this effort. We applaud the Milk Advisory Board and Raley’s for their commitment in bringing nutrition to families in need.”
Nicole Morris, a dairy farmer from Modesto who co-operates JNM Dairy with her husband, reinforced the importance of this support. “As a California dairy farmer, I’m passionate about making sure families have access to milk and dairy foods, the most nourishing and affordable sources of nutrition. This partnership brings much-needed support to communities while also reinforcing the important role dairy plays in helping families grow and thrive.”
Distribution Across a Broad Network of Food Banks
The dairy donations will be distributed across twelve Food For Families partner food banks. These include Alameda County Community Food Bank, Central California Food Bank, Food Bank for Monterey County, Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano, Feeding the Foothills, Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Redwood Empire Food Bank, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County, Second Harvest of the Greater Valley, and Yolo Food Bank.
Jessica Vaughan, Chief Executive Officer of Second Harvest of the Greater Valley, emphasized the impact of the initiative. “Milk is vitamin and nutrient-dense liquid gold to our neighbors trying to keep healthy food options on their tables. We could not be more grateful that the California Milk Advisory Board has again partnered with Raley’s Food for Families. It’s always a massive help when we can provide dairy products, like milk, to the community.”
Operational Commitment from Raley’s and its Partners
Raley’s Food For Families, with the support of customers, vendors, and company employees, has consistently contributed to local hunger relief, providing millions of meals to families in need. Raley’s covers all administrative costs associated with the program to ensure that every dollar donated directly benefits local communities.
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Zoe Edwards, Raley’s Food For Families Operations Specialist, highlighted the relevance of the donation drive.
“Year-around we accept donations to Food For Families to help alleviate hunger in our community. Dairy is a highly-requested, nutritious food group and additional source of protein that our food banks are eager to provide to their community. We are proud to partner with Real California Milk to bring dairy products to our food bank partners.”
A Broader Platform for Food Access
The CADAIRY4GOOD initiative is structured to expand access to dairy products through strategic partnerships and pilot programs, including efforts to provide refrigeration and delivery infrastructure for food banks and meal distribution sites throughout California. The broader mission is to support families in need with consistent access to nourishing dairy items.
California, as the leading dairy-producing state in the US, is home to over 1,000 family-owned dairy farms. These farms contribute to the state’s food system while advancing sustainability goals and ensuring the long-term viability of dairy production within the region.