08-20-20 Dairy MAX: Dairy farmers’ annual blood drives see greater impact during COVID-19

ByBrian Allmer - The BARN

Aug 20, 2020

Dairy MAX: Dairy farmers’ annual blood drives see greater impact during COVID-19

Nearly 40,000 lives affected by 2020 Passion for Pints blood donations

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – July 29, 2020 – Every year since 2013, Dairy MAX has partnered with local blood centers during National Dairy Month to host Passion for Pints blood drives. While blood donations are typically needed most during summer months, this year’s Passion for Pints blood drives carried extra weight due to blood shortages brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year there were over 200 individual Passion for Pints blood drives hosted across Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico, demonstrating dairy farmers’ continued commitment to their local communities. Over 13,200 units of blood were donated during the 2020 Passion for Pints blood drives, affecting nearly 40,000 lives.

“Dairy farmers care for their communities year-round by providing nutritious dairy foods, but during National Dairy Month each June we highlight how much they go above and beyond,” said John Cass, director of industry image and relations for Dairy MAX. “We were glad to help drive blood donations during this time while helping share the stories of local dairy farmers.”

As Dairy MAX and its blood center partners approach a total of 2,000 completed blood drives over the past eight years, dairy farmers remain passionate about giving back to the communities they call home. In addition to supporting local blood drives, dairy farmers are helping sustain communities during COVID-19 by ensuring milk and nutritious dairy foods get to those who need it.

“My family’s dairy farm has been part of our community for over 50 years, and we are committed to seeing this place thrive,” said Josh Cleland, third-generation dairy farmer. “It has been a challenging year for everyone, and we’re all in this together.”

One unit of blood can save up to three lives, and since its inception Passion for Pints has received enough blood donation units to affect more than 260,000 lives. Celebrating National Dairy Month by giving back to communities who support the dairy industry is a gesture that dairy farmers find rewarding and worth doing year after year.

About Dairy MAX

Founded more than 40 years ago, Dairy MAX is one of the leading regional dairy councils in America – representing more than 900 dairy farmers and serving communities in eight states: Colorado, southwest Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, western Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. A nonprofit organization, Dairy MAX is part of a nationwide effort to promote American agriculture, support dairy farming and drive impact for every dairy farmer. The organization operates five audience outreach programs: business development, consumer marketing, health and wellness, industry image and relations and school marketing. For more information about Dairy MAX and its team of experts, visit DairyMAX.org. Dairy resources and delicious recipes are available at DairyDiscoveryZone.com.