For the fourth year in a row, the Dairy Farmers of Ontario donate to provincial children’s hospitals.
By Andrew Joseph, Farms.com
We always knew that milk and cookies had a dreamy richness to them—and we know who has made Santa’s “nice” list.
The Dairy Farmers of Ontario have made a $500,000 donation to The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and other Ontario children's hospitals in Hamilton (McMaster Children's Hospitals), London (Children's Hospital), and Ottawa (CHEO).
Since 2019, the Dairy Farmers of Ontario have donated over $2 million through its Milk & Cookies holiday campaign, to better support initiatives for families having to spend this time of the year in an Ontario children's hospital.
Inspired by the magical ritual of leaving milk and cookies out for Santa, this year the Dairy Farmers of Ontario also created special Santa’s Milk-O-Grams for patients who cannot be home for the holidays.
These care packages are full of festive cheer and include a fun activity to prepare for Santa's arrival on December 24 (Christmas Eve)—such as a customizable milk bottle, milk coupons, a holiday card to decorate, and a plush toy.
"Through this donation to SickKids and other Ontario children's hospitals, Ontario dairy farmers are able to show how important it is to give back and nourish the communities we live and work in," said Cheryl Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Dairy Farmers of Ontario. "With our new Milk-o-Grams, we hope families who are unable to be home for the holidays can also share in the joy and tradition of leaving milk and cookies for Santa."
How You Can Help
Ontarians looking to spread joy to kids and families spending the holidays in Ontario's children's hospitals can get involved by sharing a message of support on social between November 28 - December 9, using @ontariodairy and #Milk4Santa.
The first 300 to share a supportive message will receive their own Santa’s Milk-O-Gram kit, just in time for Santa's arrival.
Dairy Farmers of Ontario is the marketing board for the largest sector of Ontario agriculture with some 3,400 dairy farmers. Its mission is to provide leadership and excellence in the production and marketing of Canadian milk for a dynamic, profitable growing dairy industry.
"The SickKids community is appreciative of the ongoing support and partnership from Dairy Farmers of Ontario," stated Adam Starkman, the Vice-President of Corporate Partnerships at the SickKids Foundation. "The holiday season can be an extremely trying time for families spending it in hospital, and DFOs commitment has helped us provide joy and necessary care to patients during their stay."
For more information surrounding Santa's Milk-O-Gram and how you can share your support for patients at SickKids and other Ontario children's hospitals, visit www.milk.org between November 28-December 9, 2023.