Michigan Schools Leading Fuel Up to Play 60

Bath Students Team Up with Local Businesses, Dairy Industry to Raise Funds for Milk Purchases for Flint

Celebrating the final reveal of all donations raised by the Bath community and matched by Michigan Dairy Farmers and Processors included local mascots, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Food Bank Council of Michigan.

Students from Bath High School’s National Honor Society and Student Council were joined today by representatives from the United Dairy Industry of Michigan, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Food Bank Council of Michigan to celebrate a successful ‘milk drive’ to raise funds to purchase milk for Flint families.

The Fuel For Flint fundraiser took place April 27 – May 11, and raised over $3,400, with donations still coming in. The total amount raised will be matched by UDIM and donated to Flint families through the Food Bank Council of Michigan’s member foodbank, the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, located in Flint. Flint residents are encouraged to eat a healthy diet rich in calcium, vitamin C and iron to help reduce lead absorption.

The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan will use the funds raised through Bath’s fundraising effort and additional funds raised through the website, FlintMilk.org, to purchase milk for Flint families served by the food bank.

“We heard about the concept of a milk drive and really wanted to do something to help Flint families, so we decided to give it a try here in Bath,” said Bath High School senior Faith Brown. “Bath’s National Honor Society and Student Council helped coordinate mini fundraisers during the past two weeks, and the entire school district — students, staff and families alike — stepped up to help out and contribute.”

Some of the activities included selling milk jug contribution tags; hosting photo booths and hat days at the schools; visiting the elementary and middle schools wearing cow, cheese and milk costumes to engage younger students; and setting up donation tables at home sporting events. The milk drive ended with the a relay race featuring dairy ‘mascots’ and Bath High School students, to highlight the importance of good nutrition and physical activity. Area businesses, including the Bath Beehive Childcare Center, Spagnuolo’s Party Store, the Bath Township Police and Fire Stations, and the Bath Township Library, promoted the milk drive and collected donations at their sites. Highlights of the fundraising activities were shared via social media under #FuelForFlint.

Bath High School is a participating school in Fuel Up to Play 60, an in-school nutrition and physical activity program that empowers young people to develop and implement strategies for increasing access to and consumption of healthy food choices. ‘Fuel Up Your Community’ Healthy Eating Play, with a focus on hunger, provides students the opportunity to engage their communities in Fuel Up to Play 60. Raising donations for milk will benefit the Flint community and increases awareness of those in need.

“Milk is one of the most calcium rich foods available, but unfortunately it is one of the items least donated to food banks,” said Kath Clark, FBCM’s Food Programs Manager. “With 40 percent of Flint’s population living at or below the poverty level, this donation will go a long way toward helping the many Flint residents who rely on food banks for access to nutritious foods.”

“Michigan dairy farm families and dairy processors are eager to help and have pledged to match Bath’s donation and every donation to FlintMilk.org – glass for glass – with a goal of raising 1 million glasses of milk for the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan,” said Sharon Toth, Chief Executive Officer, UDIM. “UDIM is thrilled to be a partner in this pilot effort at Bath Community Schools to bring milk to families that need it most.”

In the coming months, more organizations, athletes and others will be recruited to support FlintMilk.org, helping to raise awareness of the community’s nutrition needs and keeping the cause in the spotlight. To donate or to coordinate a milk drive in your community, visit www.FlintMilk.org.

National Honors Society students with Kath Clark of the Food Bank Council of Michigan

Faith Brown, National Honors Society student, being interviewed by local news station, WILX, for leading the #fuelforflint milk drive at Bath Community Schools.