Operation Community Impact responds to food insecurity and challenges faced by dairy producers

For many individuals and families, challenges surrounding food insecurity increased when the pandemic arrived. COVID-19 also created a surplus of fluid milk and led to decreased prices for farmers. Dairy farms nationwide were dumping milk due to decreased demand and lack of storage space at plants. Meanwhile, food pantries were in desperate need of more food to help provide nourishment for the increasing number of individuals facing food insecurity. The Cooperative Extension 4-H and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) programs at the University of Connecticut partnered with dairy processors to secure donations and mobilize Extension volunteers to distribute the donations to food pantries statewide.