Got Milk? Now
Second dairy product giveaway draws scores of vehicles
Second dairy product giveaway draws scores of vehicles
A second dairy product giveaway at Whitesville Central School Friday afternoon prompted similar results from the first giveaway two weeks ago, but this time a cow was present.
Scores of vehicles lined the highway leading into the village from both directions. They were funneled one by one into the entrance to the school parking lot, where they were greeted by a volunteer in a cow costume.
The dairy giveaway came about after local farmers were forced to dump their raw milk due in part to the closing of restaurants and schools and other markets due to the Coronavirus shutdown. Dairies are not allowed to sell their dairy products unless they have the required permits.
However when Gov. Andrew Cuomo learned that upstate farmers were dumping milk, he put together a plan to funnel said milk to downstate communities where people were going hungry due to the restrictions put in place to quell the Coronavirus.
The giveaway was sponsored by Barney Farms, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and members of the 4-H. Two tables were set up in the parking lot servicing two lines of vehicles. Masked students carried bags filled with individual servings of milk, string cheese, yogurt, brick cheese, cottage cheese and gallons of whole milk to vehicles in each line in the school parking lot. Drivers were not supposed to leave their vehicles. There was no cost and no questions, but donations were accepted.
Friendship/Saputo dairy along with others from across the area contributed to the event.
There was no mention of a third giveaway and the Coronavirus mandate requiring non-essential workers and residents to stay home is due to be lifted May 15th.
