Dairy Farmers of America, H-E-B Pledge Additional Support for Texas Food Banks

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) announced it will donate $50,000 through the DFA Cares Foundation to support Feeding Texas and other regional food banks to support recovery from February's devastating winter storms. 

Farmer-owned cooperative DFA represents more than 13,000 family farmers across the U.S., the company notes; DFA's consumer-brand portfolio includes Borden Cheese, Kemps Dairy and Plugra Premium Butter. The cooperative has raised more than $675,000 for hunger relief in the past year through its DFA Cares Farmers Feeding Families Fund, which launched last spring, according to a DFA news release.  

Last month's extraordinary winter weather exacerbated already-heightened food insecurity for vulnerable families across affected states. "The pandemic already pushed more Texans than ever to access food assistance from food banks," Feeding Texas CEO Celia Cole said in the news release. DFA's pledged support, she said, would help Texas food banks "keep their communities nourished through this crisis." 

Last week, San Antonio-based H-E-B (WGB's 2020 Grocery Business of the Year) pledged $1 million in support of 18 Texas food banks. The retailer also has donated more than 20 truckloads of food and, in partnership with suppliers, more than 725,000 bottles of water, H-E-B said in a news release.

In addition, a new donation campaign lets H-E-B customers make monetary donations of $1, $3 or $5 at the register in stores or of any amount at heb.com/donate. 

"These donations come at a critical time to help our fellow Texans get back on their feet,"said Winell Herron, H-E-B group VP of public affairs, diversity and environmental affairs, in a release. "H-E-B is here for Texas, and we will do everything we can to support those in need across our great state."