To mark World Milk Day on June 1 and kick off National Dairy Month, Weis Markets teamed up with several organizations for a celebration at its store in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, to highlight the importance of dairy and launch the 10th annual Fill A Glass With Hope campaign. 
The groups included the PA Dairymen’s Association, Feeding Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program and American Dairy Association North East.
As part of the festivities, Weis Markets donated $5,000 in fresh milk to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, supporting its Harrisburg and Williamsport locations.
Vendor partners – Chobani, Danone, Flora-Upfield, General Mills, Kraft and Lactalis American Group – also joined the cause, contributing $55,000 to kick off the campaign and help provide milk to families in need. The PA Dairymen’s “Milkshakes On The Moo-ve” truck also was on-site.
Throughout June, Weis Markets customers in Pennsylvania can support the cause by rounding up their bills at checkout. Donations to the Fill A Glass With Hope campaign will be distributed to local food banks to buy fresh milk from local producers.
“Weis Markets is committed to supporting our local communities, and fighting food insecurity is critical to this vision,” said Maria Rizzo, VP of marketing and advertising. “As a local company, we take great pride in partnering with neighboring organizations to ensure our local community members have access to fresh, nutritious milk.
“We’re so thankful for the incredible partners and customers who help make our Fill A Glass With Hope campaign possible. Together, we’re making sure families in our communities have access to the food they need.”
The event featured appearances, among others, from two-time Super Bowl Champion and former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch; Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary for Animal Health and Food Safety Lisa Graybeal; Pennsylvania dairy representatives; dairy farmer Dana Zug of Zugstead Farm in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania; and Dave Smith, executive director of PA Dairymen’s Association.
“Our dairy farmers are dedicated to providing fresh milk to our neighbors in need and are proud to support Fill A Glass With Hope with our partners and food banks,” Smith said. “We are grateful to Weis Markets for their Dairy Month Campaign and for their leadership to help us make sure all Pennsylvanians have access to delicious and nutritious milk.”
Milk is one of the most requested items at food banks but one of the least donated due to perishability. Without milk, it is difficult to get the recommended essential nutrients for a healthy diet, especially for children.
About Weis Markets
Founded in 1912, Weis Markets Inc. is a Mid-Atlantic food retailer operating 198 stores in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and West Virginia.
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