Release No. 0322.03 

Ed Loyd (202) 720-4623
Brenda Chapin (202) 690-4585

Veneman Announces Initiative to Donate Non-Fat Dry Milk to Faith-Based & Community Organizations

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2003 - Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced that the U. S. Department of Agriculture will donate non-fat dry milk to nonprofit, faith-based and community organizations for use in meal services or for distribution to needy recipients. 

“Partnering with faith-based and community organizations to provide a healthy food staple builds on President Bush’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative,” said Veneman. “This program will contribute to our efforts to meet nutritional requirements of those in need.” 

One of President Bush's first official acts as President was to create the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. The Office is leading a "determined attack on need" by strengthening and expanding the role of faith-based and community organizations in addressing the nation's social problems. 

Veneman made the announcement during a tour of Bread for the City, a private, non-profit community organization that provides local residents with food, medical and legal services. Joining Secretary Veneman were White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Director Jim Towey and several representatives from the recipient organizations. In addition to Bread for the City, organizations represented at the event include Feed the Children, a non-profit, faith-based organization that is one of the world’s largest private organizations dedicated to feeding hungry people in this country and around the world; Management Interventions Inc., an urban issues consultant group whose mission is to empower communities with the knowledge and resources necessary to sustain economic and social growth; and Operation Blessing International Relief and Development Corporation, a non-profit, faith-based, humanitarian organization that provides food, clothing, shelter, medical care and other essential needs in 96 countries and throughout the United States.

The non-fat dry milk is being provided to qualified nonprofit charitable organizations, including many that do 
not currently participate in the distribution of USDA commodities. The USDA Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) will accept orders Sept. 17-30, 2003, for this one-time initiative. Recipients must order a minimum of one full truckload, with all deliveries to be completed by Sept. 30, 2004. 

The CCC is making available a total of 48 million pounds of instantized non-fat dry milk (NDM) fortified with vitamins A and D, which is suitable for drinking, in either 25.6 ounce and/or 4-pound bags, with a maximum of 4 million pounds per month available for distribution. Additionally, 25 million pounds of non-fortified NDM in 25-kilogram (55.1-pound) bags and 10 million pounds of non-fortified NDM in 2-pound bags, which is appropriate for cooking or baking, will also be available. 

Completed applications must be submitted to: Kansas City Commodity Office, Dairy & Domestic Operations Division, P.O. Box 419205, Stop 8718, Kansas City, MO 64141-6205, fax (816) 926-6381, voice (816) 926-6124. Further information on this program may be obtained by contacting Clyde King at (816) 926-2610 or William Lang (816) 926-6050; e-mail: CPKING@kcc.usda.gov  or WLLANG@kcc.usda.gov . The agreement and order form can be found at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/daco/ndmnonprofits.htm . 

USDA has a long history of establishing partnerships with faith-based organizations to deliver services in many of its programs. USDA administers 15 federal nutrition programs that touch the lives of one in every five people every day, including the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Food Stamp Program, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

For more information about USDA’s nutrition programs visit www.usda.gov . For more information on President Bush’s Faith Based and Community Initiative visit www.whitehouse.gov 

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