In honor of National Ag Day this week, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) kicked off the DFA Cares Virtual Food Drive to raise awareness for and help address the needs of hungry Americans.

The drive, which is organized through the DFA Cares Foundation, will run through the start of June Dairy Month. A starting goal of $5,000 has been established, and funds raised will benefit Feeding America, the nation’s largest network of food banks.

The DFA Cares Virtual Food Drive is the first in a series of activities planned throughout 2011 to benefit Feeding America and its member food banks across the nation, including Harvesters, a Kansas City-based member of the Feeding America network.

Contributions can be made electronically at www.dfamilk.com/fooddrive. Or, send a check payable to DFA Cares Foundation (including a notation indicating “DFA Cares Virtual Food Drive”) to: DFA Cares Foundation, c/o Ron Hilmes, 10220 N. Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153.