NASHVILLE, TENN. – The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) Foundation donated $5,000 to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, where 40-plus IDFA staff and board members contributed to a service project at the food bank on May 1.

Members sorted and packed more than 14,000 pounds of food. Additionally, the IDFA Foundation coordinated the shipment of 1,614 cases of shelf-stable, 2% milk to the Second Harvest location, working with Diversified Foods Inc., Metairie, La., and Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc., Edwardsville, Ill.

IDFA shared that those contributions are expected to provide more than 32,000 meals to food insecure people in the region.

“While volunteering at the warehouse in Nashville, our IDFA members saw firsthand how Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee and its team of staff and volunteers are providing nourishing food to those in need,” said Matt Herrick, the IDFA Foundation’s executive director. “I am grateful to the many IDFA board members and staff who volunteered to sort and pack food, and for the generous donation of $5,000 made to the food bank on behalf of our US dairy partners.”

Senior director of strategic initiatives for Diversified Foods, Inc., Sean Steichen said the company and its brand partner Prairie Farms were proud to donate the truckload of shelf-stable milk.

“We value any opportunity to work with our food bank partners to help families in need, knowing the many struggles families go through to secure their milk consumption needs,” Steichen said.

The IDFA Foundation was created to contribute to people and communities on behalf of the US dairy industry.