Hy-Vee Steps Up for Great American Milk Drive

Hy-Vee Inc. is again stepping up to bring much-needed milk to local food banks in its eight-state region with its support of The Great American Milk Drive throughout the month of March.

For the third consecutive year, every Hy-Vee store will invite customers the opportunity to donate $2 or $4 toward the purchase of milk when they check out. At the end of the month, all donations will be used to purchase milk from area processors to be distributed to local food banks.

The Great American Milk Drive, created in partnership with Feeding America, MilkPEP and the National Dairy Council, unites and enables the nation’s food banks, processors, retailers and consumers to ensure milk and its essential nutrients are provided to families who need it most. Donations from customers of West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee’s in March 2018 supplied more than 265,000 gallons of milk.

“Hy-Vee is honored to continue its participation in The Great American Milk Drive to provide even more assistance to help alleviate hunger,” said Randy Edeker, Hy-Vee’s chairman, CEO and president, said in a statement. “Through the generosity of our customers, and with participation from all of Hy-Vee’s 249 stores, our goal is to increase donations and make nutritious milk available to those in need.”

Sponsors for this year’s campaign include Dean Foods, Kraft Heinz, Mondelez International, Hiland Dairy, Kemps and Anderson Erickson Dairy.

According to Feeding America, there are nearly 5 million food-insecure people in Hy-Vee’s eight-state region, and milk is one of the most requested—yet least available—items in U.S. food banks. Food bank clients receive less than one gallon of milk per person per year.

“The Great American Milk Drive offers us all an opportunity to make a meaningful impact for local families throughout our eight-state region,” Edeker said.

With sales of $10 billion annually, the employee-owned Hy-Vee operates more than 245 retail stores in eight Midwestern states.