Information from New England Dairy Regarding COVID-19

Partnering with Schools to Provide Meals

Currently, all public schools in our five New England states have closed for an undetermined amount of time. Within a few short days, districts developed plans to continue providing breakfast and lunch meals to their students. This has included delivery along bus routes, curbside pickup at school buildings, and setting up distribution locations in apartment complexes and other areas with high need.

New England Dairy is working with our schools and partners to develop solutions that will help get meals and milk to students by:

  • Identifying school districts that need coolers to safely transport meals and milk from vehicles or locations that do not have plug-in refrigeration.  New England dairy farmers, along with other generous partners, have provided $255,000 in grants and equipment to schools to help serve milk and meals to students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The schools we have supported are serving around 715,000 meals and half pints of milk every week to the students in their communities. Read more here.
  • Working with regional milk processors and distributors, food banks, and anti-hunger organizations to address situations of school milk over- and under-supply.
  • Continually monitoring the needs of our school districts and partners, and offering assistance to support the milk and dairy needs in our region.

New England Dairy would like to support the amazing efforts of school districts that are serving meals while schools are closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. If you have equipment challenges related to serving meals and milk during this time, please reach out to info@newenglanddairy.com to discuss your challenges and how New England Dairy might be able to help. 

GENYOUth is providing grants of up to $3,000 per school to supply much-needed resources for meal distribution and delivery efforts to get food to students during COVID-19.  Get more information about the GENYOUth Emergency School Nutrition grants and apply here.

A letter from our CEO:

The evolving situation around COVID-19 is unlike anything we’ve experienced in recent history. It is challenging us to adapt as new information is available, and it is reminding us at New England Dairy that we must remain committed to our company values during this difficult time—transparency, visionary, relevant, passionate, and collaborative.

The dairy farmers throughout New England and Eastern New York are working all day, every day to care for the cows and the land while producing nutritious, high quality milk and dairy products. There is a steady and reliable supply of milk coming from the farms in our region. We are working with partners to ensure that milk and dairy products are accessible to everyone who would like them.

New England Dairy is taking important measures to ensure the safety and health of our staff, and to assist in reducing the spread of COVID-19 while continuing to serve you. 

  • Our offices in Boston and Williston, VT are closed until further notice. We will reassess this as we receive updates from public health officials.
  • All staff are working from home with access to email, cell phone, and video conferencing to maintain our typical work schedule. Please reach out to us if you need anything.
  • Public meetings, events, conferences, and other gatherings we had planned for the next month have been postponed or cancelled until further guidance from public health officials.

While there are many things changing around us, we can assure you that we are steadfastly dedicated to providing our communities with resources and information about nutrition, wellness, food, and dairy farming. Our website and social media channels are excellent ways to access helpful content and to stay in touch with us.

If you have more immediate needs or questions, please send them to info@newenglanddairy.com. This mailbox is constantly monitored; we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Thank you for your continued support of dairy in New England.

Regards,

Jenny Karl, MS, RD

Chief Executive Officer

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