Hunger and food insecurity affects millions of Americans across the country. Dairy product donations to food banks offer a pipeline to move products from farm to table – resulting in a win-win for producers and families. Two agricultural enthusiasts are encouraging you to support your local dairy farmers and food banks with ‘Support Local Farmers’ and ‘Stay Cheesy’ clothing wear.
“As the pandemic continues, more families and individuals are facing food insecurity,” says Sydney Endres. “Milk is one of the most requested items at food banks. By donating milk and cheese, we can help fill that need while helping the dairy industry find more homes for its products.”
All proceeds from the ‘Support Local Farmers’ clothing wear will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin’s ‘Adopt-A-Dairy-Cow’ and Feeding America’s ‘Great American Milk Drive’. Proceeds from ‘Stay Cheesy’ will be used to buy cheese from Saputo and donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin.
Since May 2020, Endres and Mariah Martin have sold over 1,000 shirts and donated over $14,000 worth of dairy products to both Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin and Feeding America through the sale of ‘Support Local Farmers’ shirts.
With the addition of sweatshirts and a new design focused on the donation of cheese, they hope to donate a total of $20,000 before the holidays.
“We’ve been overwhelmed with the support of this project from our families, friends and strangers across the U.S.,” says Martin. “Both Sydney and I have a passion for giving back and this project has allowed us to do that in a creative way.”
The dairy industry in particular holds a special place in both Endres’s and Martin’s hearts. Endres grew up on her family’s Jersey dairy farm and currently resides there. She works for the American Jersey Cattle Association as an area representative and type traits appraiser. Although Martin did not grow up on a farm, her family has a rich history in the dairy industry dating back seven generations. She works for Filament Marketing as a marketing executive.
The two designed the shirts and worked with a DeForest-based printer to create shirts available in a variety of sizes and styles. Their initial goal was to raise $2,000. However, through social media, word of mouth and the goodness of others they exceeded their goal.
All orders can be placed online. Orders must be placed by Friday, November, 13 at midnight. When the order is complete, shirts will be mailed by December 21 or available for pick up at X Per T’s Printwear in Deforest, Wis. in early December.
For more information or any questions, contact Mariah Martin at [email protected].
