Milk Life and Prairie Farms Dairy partnered with U.S. Olympian and Lexington, Kentucky, native fencer, Lee Kiefer, to donate a year’s worth of milk to God’s Pantry Food Bank on Giving Tuesday, a day of action dedicated to helping others.
Not all have access to milk, and it’s the most requested and least donated item to food banks. On average, food banks are only able to provide the equivalent of one gallon of milk per person per year.
With its nine essential nutrients, including 8g of natural protein in every 8-oz glass, milk has been a staple for most U.S. Olympians. Milk is a sponsor of Team USA—supporting athletes’ pursuit of excellence at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“My Team USA journey started right here in Lexington. Fueling with milk helped me train at the highest level,” said Kiefer. “It feels so appropriate and fitting to give back to the community that supported me and cheered me on throughout my career, by donating milk to those who need it most as I embark on another Olympic journey.”
The Dairy Alliance says it is partnering with Team Milk athlete and Kentucky native Kiefer to help reinforce how a lifetime of hard work—and milk—builds champions. She represented the United States as part of the USA Fencing Olympic team in 2012 and 2016 and is currently working toward the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. She was the first U.S. women’s foil fencer to earn a No. 1 world ranking, second U.S. women’s foil fencer ever to win a medal at the Senior World Championships (2011), first athlete to win eight consecutive individual titles at the Pan American Championships and second U.S. women’s foil fencer ever to win a Grand Prix title (2016). Kiefer fenced all four years she attended Notre Dame University, where she was a five-time NCAA champion, and is currently a second-year medical student at the University of Kentucky. She currently lives in Lexington with her husband Gerek, who is also a Team USA fencer.
“Families visiting pantries often ask if there is milk available that day, and with this donation from Lee, MilkPEP and Prairie Farms ,we can say yes,” said Michael J. Halligan, CEO of God’s Pantry Food Bank. “We are grateful for this contribution that will help nourish 100 families this week with nutrient-packed milk.”
“Prairie Farms is honored to support Lee Kiefer in providing nutrient-rich milk to those who need it most across Lexington,” said Joe Prewitt with Prairie Farms, which is based in Edwardsville, Illinois. “Whether fueling an Olympian or a family gathered around the dinner table, milk provides high-quality protein and other essential nutrients that everyone needs to perform their best.”
