Georgia's dairy farmers, along with Kroger Atlanta Division, as part of the new Great Georgia Give campaign will deliver 24,000 half-gallons of Georgia milk to first responders and healthcare workers across the Atlanta metro area.

The campaign started April 24 at Centennial Farms in Atlanta, Ga., when Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black delivered opening remarks and helped load half-gallons of local Georgia milk supplied by Dairy Farmers of America and Kroger's Centennial Farms into a refrigerated truck. The milk load went to Wellstar Health System's six locations, the two Atlanta-based Ronald McDonald Houses and Northside Hospital's five locations.

"This incredible show of support to feed and nourish our first responders and families in need with local Georgia milk is the type of action our communities need right now," Black said in April 24 statement. "I am proud of our state's dairy farmers for giving back and for the continued work they do to provide safe and wholesome milk and dairy foods to our families, even during this crisis."

The Great Georgia Give is led by Milk on My Mind, a dairy awareness program initiated and funded by Georgia dairy farmers through the GDA Commodity Commission for Milk. It was developed and managed by Atlanta-based marketing and PR agency The Partnership.

Kroger has committed to match the milk donations made by Great Georgia Give. The milk donation of 24,000 half gallons represents $60,000 contributed by Kroger Atlanta Division, DFA and Kroger's Centennial Farms.

"Now more than ever, preventing waste in the food chain is crucial," said Kroger Atlanta Division President Tim Brown in the April 24 statement. "The Great Georgia Give aligns with Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact plan to end hunger and eliminate waste in our communities by connecting a great product with great heroes. … Milk is one of Georgia's most important agricultural commodities and the Great Georgia Give is ensuring that it is nourishing those who need it."

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, dairy farmers in Georgia have suffered major disruptions in their supply chain, causing milk to have to be discarded.

"Our Georgia dairy farmers are on the front lines producing milk and dairy foods. In parallel they appreciate the work being done by our healthcare and first responders and want to give back," said Paul Johnson, Georgia dairy farmer and board chairman of Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Milk. "We appreciate our partners DFA and Kroger for making this contribution possible and extend a thank you to Nicole Duvall with the Georgia Mobile Classroom for delivering the donations on dairy farmers' behalf."

In the coming weeks, the remaining 24,000 half-gallons of local Georgia milk will be donated to healthcare workers and first responders in Augusta, Macon and Savannah.