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From:	Samantha (209.150.226.214)
Subject:	Dairy Free Campaign in Schools
Date:	July 11, 2008 at 9:46 am PST

Hello,

I am an intern with the campaigns department of Farm Sanctuary, an animal protection organization. I am currently working on a campaign to make nondairy alternatives available in the National School Lunch Program.

Aside from the benefits of this program to dairy cows and animal welfare issues, this will have great health benefits for children. Between 4.8 to 8.5 million school children are lactose intolerant, including up to 80% of African Americans and 45 to 100% of Latinos. Black and Hispanic students, who are far more likely to be lactose intolerant and participate in the National School Lunch Program, are disproportionately affected by the lack of available non-dairy milk alternatives in the School Nutrition Programs.

Farm Sanctuary is focusing on incorporating vegetable based alternatives into the National School Lunch Program, so that all children, including the millions with an allergy to cows’ milk, will have a nutritionally adequate alternative.

I am in the process of building a coaltion of supporters, specifically mothers who support animal rights or vegetariansim and would be interested in helping the initiative within their school districts. If anyone is interested in becoming involved, please let me know. This would entail being an advocate for nondairy alternatives within PTA or school board meetings. Additionally, we are trying to get national legislation passed, so will need people to help write letters to congressmen. If you are interested in helping with any of this, please email me at campaignintern2@farmsanctuary.org

Thanks for your support,
Samantha

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