Newsroom

NEWPORT, TN -- The Dairy Alliance, a leading nonprofit organization that raises awareness about the benefits of milk, recently addressed a critical need for families in Cocke County facing food insecurity. With funding from the Tennessee Dairy Promotion Committee (TDPC), the organization donated a dedicated dairy cooler—fully stocked with Mayfield milk—to The Breadbasket, a local nonprofit food pantry.

The donation was made possible through the efforts of local dairy farmer and community advocate Deborah Boyd, who recognized the need within the community and partnered with The Dairy Alliance to help secure a dedicated dairy cooler, a critical addition that strengthens the pantry's ability to serve families.

On January 16th, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at The Breadbasket to celebrate the new cooler, which enhances the pantry's ability to serve hundreds of families each month with nourishing food and essential household items.

The dedicated cooler will allow The Breadbasket to safely store dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, and other nutritious staples for families who need them most.

"We are honored to support The Breadbasket by providing equipment that allows them to safely store dairy products and continue their vital mission of fighting hunger," said Farrah Newberry, Chief Executive Officer at The Dairy Alliance. "We are grateful to the Tennessee Dairy Promotion Committee for making this donation possible, and to local dairy farmer Deborah Boyd, for advocating for this initiative. The Dairy Alliance works closely with dairy farmers across the Southeast to help ensure communities have access to wholesome, nutritious milk and dairy products."

Helping Families in Need

The Breadbasket is an important resource for Cocke County. Each month, families can visit the pantry to receive a food bag containing approximately 15 meals, including rice, beans, canned fruits and vegetables, noodles, soups, meats, bread, and more. In addition, the pantry offers a "Pick 2" program featuring hygiene products, medical supplies, diapers, coats, and other essentials at the facility located at 625 Honey Bee Lane in Newport.

"Families consistently ask for milk and other dairy products, but without proper cold storage, we couldn't safely provide them. Thanks to a local dairy farmer and community advocate, Deborah Boyd, who identified the need and collaborated with The Dairy Alliance, we were able to secure a dedicated dairy cooler, an essential upgrade that fills a critical gap in our services," said Jamee Morrow, Director of The Breadbasket.

Throughout the year, The Breadbasket relies on donations and community partnerships to continue its mission. Beyond the monthly services, the pantry also supports more than 2,000 individuals with Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. Those interested in helping can email Thebreadbasketnewport@gmail.com for more information.

To learn more about The Dairy Alliance, visit https://thedairyalliance.com or follow @TheDairyAlliance on Facebook or Instagram.

###

About The Dairy Alliance

The Dairy Alliance is a nonprofit funded by dairy farm families of the Southeast. We work diligently with dairy farmers, schools, sports teams, health professionals, local organizations, state leaders, the media, and the public to promote dairy foods and knowledge about the dairy industry. Our efforts center in eight states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Other Media

Contact Information

Olivia Mairn

Ink Link Marketing

Sun City Center, Florida

United States

Telephone: 305.631.2283

Tasty Snacks with the Dairy Alliance | Talk of Alabama | 1.21.2026

Shannon Baker — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 13:42:33 +0000

Permalink

Trump signs a law returning whole milk to school lunches

Shannon Baker — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:18:00 +0000

Permalink

The Dairy Alliance, Virginia State Dairymen's Association, and Farm Credit of the Virginias Expand Milk Dispenser Grant Program for Virginia Schools

Shannon Baker — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 13:37:00 +0000

More than $155,000 supports early 2026 rollout of sustainable school milk solutions

ATLANTA, GA-- The Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit funded by dairy farm families in the Southeast, has teamed up with the Virginia State Dairymen's Association (VSDA) and Farm Credit of the Virginias to advance the Milk Dispenser (MD) Grant Program for K–12 schools across the Commonwealth. Combined funding totaling $155,000 will support new grant awards scheduled for early 2026.

The initiative includes a $115,000 grant from the Van der Lely Foundation, a $30,000 contribution from VSDA supporting Virginia K–12 school districts statewide, and a $10,000 sponsorship from Farm Credit of the Virginias dedicated to K–12 schools in Southwest Virginia. All funding supports the MD Grant Program, covering milk dispenser equipment and kits that help schools transition away from single-use milk cartons.

Through the partnership, VSDA will administer MD grants in collaboration with The Dairy Alliance, directing resources toward equipment, training, and technical support for participating school nutrition teams. The program helps schools enhance the milk experience for students while supporting sustainability goals and reducing cafeteria waste.

"The Milk Dispenser Grant Program gives schools the tools and support they need to make real dairy milk more accessible for students," said Farrah Newberry, CEO of The Dairy Alliance. "When schools remove barriers and modernize how they serve real dairy milk, students drink more of it and build healthier habits that last beyond the cafeteria."

The Dairy Alliance's Youth Wellness team works closely with school nutrition directors to support implementation and promote the nutritional benefits of real dairy milk. Grant funding removes a key barrier for schools by offsetting equipment costs and providing hands-on guidance throughout installation and operation.

"Strong partnerships help schools deliver real dairy milk in a way that connects with students and supports local dairy farmers," said Eric Paulson, executive director of the Virginia State Dairymen's Association. "This combined investment allows more Virginia schools to participate in a proven program as they plan for the 2026 school year."

Milk dispenser programs continue delivering measurable results across the Southeast. Nearly three-quarters of children ages two through eighteen fall short of the recommended daily dairy intake. At one early-adopting Virginia school, milk packaging waste dropped nearly 90 percent while milk consumption climbed more than 50 percent. Schools participating in MD grant programs consistently report an average milk movement increase of at least 14 percent.

With this combined funding, the MD Grant Program will expand into additional Virginia cities and counties beginning in early 2026. Ongoing data collection will track environmental impact, milk usage, and student engagement throughout the grant period.

School nutrition directors and administrators interested in MD grants can contact Roseanne Liberatore with The Dairy Alliance at rliberatore@thedairyalliance.com for more information.

For more information about The Dairy Alliance, visit https://thedairyalliance.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram @TheDairyAlliance.

###

About The Dairy Alliance

About the Virginia State Dairymen's Association (VSDA)

The Virginia State Dairymen's Association is the statewide voice for dairy farmers, working to strengthen an industry that has shaped Virginia's rural communities for generations. The VSDA is a member organization founded in 1907 to represent and promote the dairy industry in Virginia. VSDA is committed to ensuring a profitable and sustainable dairy across the Commonwealth.

About Farm Credit

Farm Credit supports agriculture and rural communities by providing reliable financial services and community-focused investments. Through partnerships and sponsorships, Farm Credit helps strengthen local food systems, support youth nutrition initiatives, and invest in the long-term success of rural America.

About the Van der Lely Foundation

The Van der Lely Foundation is an independent initiative of the Van der Lely family, rooted in their firm conviction to contribute to a better world through entrepreneurship and innovation. The foundation is ANBI-registered and aims to support initiatives in the areas of education in science, entrepreneurship, innovation and technology; healthcare; climate and sustainability; arts and culture. Visit vanderlelyfoundation.com for more information and to submit project proposals.

Contact Information

Olivia Mairn

Ink Link Marketing

Telephone: 305.631.2283

The Dairy Alliance Celebrates Georgia's First Middle School Milk Dispenser at Red Top Middle School

Shannon Baker — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 13:54:00 +0000

BARTOW COUNTY, GA-- The Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit funded by dairy farm families in the Southeast, recently joined Bartow County School System leaders and Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. to celebrate a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Red Top Middle School, marking the first middle school in Georgia to offer milk through a dispenser.

The installation is part of a statewide effort supported by earmarked funding from Georgia Milk Producers, Inc., with The Dairy Alliance tasked with identifying willing and capable school districts to implement milk dispensers in K–12 cafeterias.

"Milk dispensers are a great way to upgrade real dairy milk for this generation of students," said Will McWhirter, Manager of Youth Wellness at The Dairy Alliance. "It's been a pleasure for me to experience many K–12 students' first sip of real dairy milk from a milk dispenser and seeing their eyes light up while they're still drinking it."

Bartow County is leading the effort as the first Georgia district with multiple schools participating, with plans to install dispensers across all middle and high schools, totaling seven schools. Red Top Middle School is the first middle school in the state to implement the program.

"I'm proud of our school nutrition team at Red Top Middle School for wanting to be a part of this innovative project," said Betsy Roam, School Nutrition Director of Bartow County. "Raising your hand and choosing to be the first middle school in Georgia to offer milk dispensers versus the traditional carton shows the staff's dedication to providing quality nutrition to our students."

Seven Georgia school districts have launched or will soon begin offering milk through dispensers, including Cartersville City, Marietta City, Bartow County, Polk County, Calhoun City, Bremen City, and KIPP Charter Schools of Atlanta. In total, the initiative includes 18 schools and 30 milk dispensers statewide.

"Our Georgia dairy farmers are excited about this opportunity to help support our schools and provide more and colder Georgia-grown milk to our cafeterias," said Bryce Trotter, Executive Director of Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. This program benefits students while strengthening connections to local dairy farmers."

"It's been a lifelong project of mine to improve the quality of milk for students, and these dispensers are by far and away the best thing that we've come up with," said Ted Trotter, Georgia dairy farmer. "In my 40 years of working on dairies, I'm glad to see we're finally starting to get some implementation and support from local schools. Cafeteria managers are ready and willing to try it. In the past, many said it would never work, but the ones who tried it really love it. I'm just glad to see it's finally coming to fruition."

The Dairy Alliance continues to work with school districts and dairy partners across the Southeast to expand access to milk dispensers and strengthen connections between students and local dairy farm families.

To learn more about The Dairy Alliance, visit https://thedairyalliance.com or follow @TheDairyAlliance on Facebook or Instagram.

###