Because people need
Fifteen-year-old Rocky Grove student to giveaway fourth truckload of dairy
A man riding a bicycle in the rain showed up late to the dairy giveaway at the Rocky Grove fire hall earlier this summer. All of the milk products had been given out and they just didn't have anymore to give. "We were trying to figure out what to do to help this man," said Angela Knapp. "We felt bad and the man seemed to really be in need."
She then described a car pulling up with two elderly ladies who had received their milk and cheese etc. and said "Oh hun, we can't use all this milk, is there any way you can give it to someone else?"
The man on the bike hadn't left yet. Knapp said it was perfect timing like it was meant to be.
Knapp told this story Wednesday saying it's the kind of story that makes one tear up.
She then described a car pulling up with two elderly ladies who had received their milk and cheese etc. and said "Oh hun, we can't use all this milk, is there any way you can give it to someone else?"
The man on the bike hadn't left yet. Knapp said it was perfect timing like it was meant to be.
Knapp told this story Wednesday saying it's the kind of story that makes one tear up.
Knapp's daughter Kaylee spearheaded three of these dairy giveaways this summer in cooperation with the United Way of Venango County and Marburger's Dairy through a Coronavirus Relief Act grants to distribute dairy products to those in need. In total they gave diary products to over 13,000 households.
Marburger's received a second round of relief grants and asked if Knapp would be able to do more drives. She agreed to one more from 3 to 7 p.m. July 30 at the Cranberry Mall in the back behind the former Sears Store.
A 53-foot trailer full of milk, cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, butter and cottage cheese will be unloaded for distribution by a sea of volunteers coordinated by Kaylee and United Way director Will Price.
"I wanted to reach more people," Kaylee said about adding a fourth drive. "There are a lot of people struggling because of COVID - because they are unemployed."
Kaylee also loves the dairy industry and understands many farmers are hurting from lower demand due to restaurants and schools being closed or working at reduced capacity. Many farmers decreased their milking production dramatically after milk had to be dumped due to saturation of the market earlier this summer. Though less milk is being dumped now, the production and profits are lower. Holding another giveaway through relief grants helps everyone, she said.
Marburger's received a second round of relief grants and asked if Knapp would be able to do more drives. She agreed to one more from 3 to 7 p.m. July 30 at the Cranberry Mall in the back behind the former Sears Store.
A 53-foot trailer full of milk, cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, butter and cottage cheese will be unloaded for distribution by a sea of volunteers coordinated by Kaylee and United Way director Will Price.
"I wanted to reach more people," Kaylee said about adding a fourth drive. "There are a lot of people struggling because of COVID - because they are unemployed."
Kaylee also loves the dairy industry and understands many farmers are hurting from lower demand due to restaurants and schools being closed or working at reduced capacity. Many farmers decreased their milking production dramatically after milk had to be dumped due to saturation of the market earlier this summer. Though less milk is being dumped now, the production and profits are lower. Holding another giveaway through relief grants helps everyone, she said.
As Knapp also prepares for the modified Venango County Fair next week, she was still arranging volunteers for Thursday. The Milkmasters 4-H member said she has received support from her friends in the club, fellow Rocky Grove High School students and other community members.
She said some have wanted to give donations but she hasn't set up a mechanism for collecting them. She has received many thank you cards and letters. Some people have sent pages of jokes with notes saying that they wanted to give her some of the joy she has given to them.
She said some have wanted to give donations but she hasn't set up a mechanism for collecting them. She has received many thank you cards and letters. Some people have sent pages of jokes with notes saying that they wanted to give her some of the joy she has given to them.