California Dairy Families Partner With Raley’s to Fight Hunger

In honor of National Dairy Month, the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) has launched a partnership with Raley’s Food For Families to combat food insecurity across California [1]. Throughout June, the CMAB will match customer donations made in-store and online to the program dollar-for-dollar, up to $35,000, to help supply dairy products to feeding programs [1].

Key takeaways

• Over 1.8 million households in California currently face food insecurity [1].
• The CMAB is matching customer donations to Raley’s Food For Families up to $35,000 during the month of June [1].
• The initiative supports 12 partner food banks across California and Nevada [1].
• Raley’s covers all administrative costs for the Food For Families program, ensuring 100% of donations go to food bank partners [1].
• The collaboration is part of the broader Real California Milk CADAIRY4GOOD platform, which aims to increase access to dairy through refrigeration resources and product delivery [1].

Expanding Access to Nutritious Dairy

The partnership, which marks the fourth year of collaboration between the CMAB and Raley’s, focuses on delivering milk and other dairy products to families in need [1]. The donations will be distributed through 12 specific food banks, including the Alameda County Community Food Bank, the Central California Food Bank, and the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services [1]. According to Jessica Vaughan, CEO of Second Harvest of the Greater Valley, milk serves as a nutrient-rich staple that helps community members maintain healthy food choices at home [1].

The initiative utilizes the "Do Good with Dairy" campaign to raise awareness through digital channels and in-store signage [1]. Nicole Morris, a California dairy farmer who operates JNM Dairy, emphasized that the partnership is intended to make dairy foods more accessible, noting that they are among the most affordable and nutritious options available [1]. Raley’s Food For Families, a 501(c)3 organization founded in 1986, has raised over $81 million and provided 72 million pounds of food over the past four decades [1].

Why it matters

The program addresses a persistent challenge in the state, where California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross noted that families continue to struggle with nutritional challenges despite the state’s high agricultural productivity [1]. By focusing on dairy—a high-demand food group—the partnership aims to provide a consistent source of protein to those experiencing food insecurity [1]. Beyond this specific donation drive, the Real California Milk CADAIRY4GOOD platform continues to work year-round to pilot programs that provide refrigeration and logistical support to food banks, ensuring they have the infrastructure necessary to store and distribute fresh, perishable dairy products [1].