By Hub City Times staff

GREENWOOD – Grassland Dairy is donating thousands of pounds of butter across the country.

The contribution not only helps meet a large need, during the country’s expanded reliance on food banks due to Safer at Home regulations, it also provides a distribution means for local milk products, enabling the business to maintain intake from local farmers.

“The impact of this public health pandemic has been significant, and as we’ve seen across the country, there has been an immediate surge in the number of people who are now relying on their local food pantries,” said Trevor Wuethrich, president of Grassland Dairy.  “We are living through a moment that is difficult in so many ways, which is why it’s so important that we all show kindness to each other and do what we can to help our communities.”

Wuethrich added that by continuing to operate at full production capacity, Grassland has been able to maintain its volume of milk deliveries from hundreds of local dairy farms to each of its plants.

The Thorp Community Food Pantry prepares food donations. Submitted photo.

“Our business begins on the farm,” Wuethrich said. “Like many of our farmer patrons, our family has been in the dairy business for generations.  The economic shutdown, especially among schools, restaurants, and food service providers, has been devastating for many dairy farms, and we are committed to doing everything we can to support them.”

Local panties benefiting from the butter donations include: Clark County Area Food Pantry and Resource Center, Colby Food Pantry, Feed My People Food Bank in Eau Claire, Fruit of the Vine Food Pantry, Gilman Future Farmers of America, Greenwood High School, Greenwood Missionary Baptist Church Food Pantry, Thorp Community Food Pantry, Trinity Vineyard Church, and Withee Community Alliance Church Food Pantry.

A company release said that Grassland has donated more than 10,000 pounds of butter across the country.