With the cost of milk always fluctuating, a recent announcement made by the St. Paul-based Kemps company may make the high prices a little easier to swallow.

During the 2008-09 NHL Hockey season, Kemps will donate five cents from every purchase of specially-marked 94-ounce jugs of chocolate milk to Minnesota Hockey, the governing body of youth hockey in Minnesota.

The jugs feature a Minnesota Wild logo and are available at supermarkets throughout the state for a retail price of $3.99.

Minnesota Hockey, a USA Hockey affiliate, is the largest state governing body for youth hockey in the United States. The organization has 55,000 registered players, including 9,000 females.

Austin Youth Hockey, which rents Packer Arena from the city of Austin, is a member of Minnesota Hockey.

Five cents may not seem like much, but it adds up in a hurry, especially if people across the state purchase the chocolate milk from time to time throughout the hockey season.

With local, state and federal funding few and far between these days, it’s refreshing when a company such as Kemps steps up to the plate and helps out our youth.