7-Eleven, Dean Foods donate a meal to North Texas Food Bank for each gallon of Oak Farms milk sold during four-week campaign.
In North Texas, each gallon of milk purchased at participating 7-Eleven stores between Sept. 6 and Oct. 4 could mean a meal for someone suffering from hunger.
In recognition of Hunger Action Month in September and the yearlong problem of hunger, 7-Eleven Inc. and Dean Foods’ regional brand Oak Farms Dairy are sponsoring the “Buy a Gallon, Give a Meal” campaign. The four-week effort benefits the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB).
Through the donations of food companies and individuals, the North Texas Food Bank is able to turn $1 into three meals for hungry families in North Texas. During the promotion, 7-Eleven and Oak Farms will donate one meal to the food bank for every gallon of white milk purchased at Dallas-Fort Worth-area stores, up to $35,000 or more than 100,000 meals.
The “Buy a Gallon, Give a Meal” campaign includes white milk in whole, 2%, 1% and fat-free varieties.
“People are often shocked to hear that 289,000 children here in North Texas are at risk of going hungry,” said Jan Pruitt, president and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank. “We are so thankful for companies like 7-Eleven and Dean Foods that recognize the growing problem of child hunger and bring solutions to the table. Hunger is a widespread problem, and we need everyone who lives and works here in North Texas to take part in finding a solution.”
7-Eleven and Dean Foods are the leaders in their respective fields of convenience retailing and dairy processing and distribution, and both are headquartered here. Oak Farms is one of dozens of brands Dean Foods operates in the U.S.
“This month our guests have an opportunity to make a difference in the fight against hunger,” said 7-Eleven CFO Stan Reynolds, also a NTFB board member. “We are excited about working with Dean Foods and the North Texas Food Bank. Dairy food plays an integral role in good childhood nutrition, so milk is a natural tie-in.”
Because of its daily ordering and delivery system, 7-Eleven stores offer some of the freshest milk and longest code dates in the industry. Each day, stores transmit their order for milk products directly to local dairies. Stores are able to receive deliveries every day of the week of all its fresh and perishable foods including dairy products.
“Hunger Action Month is an initiative Dean Foods supports every year,” said Dean Foods CEO Gregg Tanner. “So when 7-Eleven, one of our key customers, approached us about a promotion to support the North Texas Food Bank, of course we immediately agreed. This campaign is a great way to engage the local community, increase awareness about the issue of hunger and raise funds for an incredible organization.”
Dean Foods and 7-Eleven also will make a donation of time. To kick off Hunger Action Month and the “Buy 1 Gallon, Give 1 Meal” campaign, employee volunteers of the two companies will participate in the NTFB’s 24-Hour Sort-A-Thon on Sept. 5.
During the Sort-A-Thon, volunteers work in shifts around the clock on tasks ranging from sorting incoming donations and unsalable items, to an assembly line, which produces boxes of food items for various NTFB programs. This teambuilding event provides thousands of meals to hungry North Texans and there will be fun highlights during each shift including food, drinks, music and more.