milkdrive

Milk Does a Family Good

If you’ve spent any time around here lately, you’ll know that Isabel is now a toddler. And like all toddlers, the odds of her eating half of her meal, let alone finishing it, are about 54328 to 1. In other words, zero. However, whereas adults are told not to “drink” their calories, I have less of a problem with Isabel drinking hers.

I’m not talking about alcohol. I’m talking about milk!

As a kid, I remember drinking it with every meal, usually instead of water (what kid actually wants to drink water?), and sometimes in a frosted mug with milk ice crystals. I drank it between meals, as a thirst quencher on a hot day, and with dessert. In other words – I drank it all the time.

Fortunately for us, Mrs. FWL was wiling, able, and extremely dedicated to breastfeeding Isabel for the first year of her life. Post breastfeeding, we have been diligent in giving Isabel milk to aid in her development and caloric intake (remember the occasional refusal to eat meals?). The frozen tundra (aka the dairy room) is a frequent stop during our Costco runs and our fridge always has a couple weeks’ supply. So needless to say, Isabel’s relationship with milk is important.

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Parenting is all about routines. Some routines change frequently, while others remain fairly constant. Meal time is one of those constants. Isabel has her preferences – mac n’ cheese, pasta, quesadillas, fruit, and milk, and her dislikes, basically any meat (not happy about this one). But not all kids are lucky enough to have easy access the the things they like or need, including milk. Many children rely on school breakfast and lunch programs to help provide the necessary nutrients and proteins found in milk, and when school is let out for the summer, some of these 22 million children lose out too.

Now, I realize that personal beliefs on milk vary, and I respect those opinions. I also know that supplementing the nutrients and protein found in milk with other foods is a privilege that not all children and families have. Milk is one of the most requested items by food banks year-round, especially during the summer when kids are missing out on nutritious meals provided through school breakfast and lunch programs. But on average, food banks are only able to provide the equivalent of less than one gallon of milk per person per year. That’s because, while Americans are generous with canned and dry goods, many don’t think to donate milk because it’s perishable.

I want to teach Isabel many things. One of which is appreciating everything she has, like the roof over her head, the food in our fridge, the clothes on her back, and the opportunities that we will undoubtedly be able to provide her. Another is about charity.

I won’t say that I am not charitable, but I believe I could be more. I donate clothes from time-to-time after cleaning out my closet and drawers, and donate blood when I can, but that’s about it. I’ve never volunteered at a shelter or mentored a child. I’ve thought about both, but not done either. So it’s time to put my money where my mouth is. While I can’t create more hours in my day to donate my time, I can donate monetarily more frequently than I do – even if it’s small.

Together, we can help power the play of children in need all summer long with a small donation at milklife.com/giveDadsWest. A donation of as little as $5 will deliver a gallon of milk to a local family through the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks. Join me and my fellow team of dad’s all month long who are participating in The Great American Milk Drive to donate gallons of milk for kids in need.

And on June 16, follow this social media-driven milk drive on Facebook and Twitter with #MilkDrive, as America’s milk companies and dairy farmers make gallons multiply across the country by matching up to $10,000 in donations.

gream american milk drive infographic
Disclosure: I have partnered with Life of Dad and Milk Life for this promotion. I have received compensation for my participation, but all opinions are my own.


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