National Farmers Dairy Staff Help Those In Need With Milk, Cheese, and Other Milk Products
The pandemic continues to harshly impact people and businesses around the globe, and National Farmers staff have stepped up to help dairy farmers and those less fortunate. Dairy Operations Director Dave Kaseno coordinated the effort, modeled after the two-year old National Farmers home office program that enables employees to withhold a donation from each paycheck.
The funds are used to purchase dairy products for those in need. “I spoke with our regional dairy staff members about the idea and they were very receptive, because they feel fortunate to be able to work full-time during this pandemic, and wanted to honor dairy farmers and give back to the consumers of dairy products who have found themselves in need,” said Kaseno.
Jennifer Dilley, administrative assistant for the Upper Midwest Dairy Region Spring Green dairy office named the River Valley Backpack Program as the recipient for her region’s donations. “Arena, Spring Green, Lone Rock and Plain are all part of our school district and National Farmers milk is processed through Arena Cheese, so our region’s donation was able to provide cheese curds to 60 families,” Dilley said.
June 2, the Great Lakes Gulf Division dairy staff made a $600 donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio. Second Harvest is a regional nonprofit organization, dedicated to providing nutritious food to those less fortunate. Becky Bardsley, donor relations coordinator of Second Harvest of North Central Ohio, thanked the National Farmers staff and pledged their cash donation would be strictly used for milk, cheese and butter.
Some substantial product donations were made in Twin Cities, Minnesota to FOCUS House. The Fellowship of Orthodox Christians United to Serve reaches out to low-income communities there. Kaseno teamed with Jim Heinen to coordinate that region’s donation with Gibbsville Cheese, Gibbsville, Wisconsin.
“FOCUS has a donation percentage rate in the 90th percentile, which means more than 90 percent of donations they receive go directly to those in need,” Kaseno emphasized. I am especially proud of National Farmers and I believe this project inspires staff member teamwork and motivates people.
