Schumer Announces Chobani to Donate 5,000 Servings of Yogurt, Intended for Sochi Olympians, to Food Pantries in NY & NJ

LongIsland.com

delivery of the yogurt to US athletes was blocked by the Russian government.

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New York, NY - February 14, 2014 - U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that Chobani will donate the 5,000 servings of Greek yogurt that had been intended for U.S. Olympic athletes in Sochi to food banks in New York and New Jersey. Schumer learned in early February that the Russian government would not permit the yogurt donated by Chobani – an Official Sponsor of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams – to enter Sochi due to very specific and unattainable Customs certifications, even though it was only intended for American citizens on a one-time, non-commercial basis. Schumer reached out numerous times to both Russian and U.S. State Department officials in Russia to urge that U.S. athletes be given access to this protein-rich food ready for delivery. Despite cooperation from the State Department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Russian government has not budged. Chobani today decided to donate the yogurt to Saint John's Soup Kitchen in New Jersey and to the Food Bank For New York City.
 
“Chobani and I fought hard to deliver their yogurt to our Olympic athletes in Sochi. While we did not prevail, there is a silver – or gold – lining in the news that the yogurt will be donated to hungry men, women and children in New York and New Jersey,” said Senator Schumer.