KPRC-TV/Houston interviewed Brighter Bites’ Founder and Board Chair Lisa Helfman this month. Helfman discussed Brighter Bites’ mission and expansion plans and ways that the general public can support the organization. For the full interview visit KPRC-TV/Newsmakers.
Brighter Bites’ Prince George’s County schools received a $40,000 grant from Amerigroup/Maryland in September. This announcement was covered by the The Packer and Produce News. The stories also discussed how Brighter Bites successfully adapted its programming during the COVID-19 pandemic.
And Now U Know, a major produce trade, covered Brighter Bites’ Prince George’s County fall programing and the generous grant provided by Amerigroup. Brighter Bites’ Northeast Regional Program Director, Melanie Button, was featured and quoted in the piece.
KPRC/Channel 2 Houston, the city’s NBC affiliate, broadcasted a piece about food insecurity and how it has become even more prevalent during the past 6 months due to COVID-19. Brighter Bites’ strong, longstanding partnership with the Houston Food Bank is mentioned.
Produce Blue Book discusses Brighter Bites’ withdrawal from the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program due to new USDA guidelines requiring the boxes to contain meat and dairy items. Brighter Bites is committed to serving only produce to families in underserved communities, therefore its participation will discontinue this September. The Produce Blue Book wrote two articles about these changes, the latest published on August 11.
Brighter Bites and 99 Cents Only stores announced a new initiative aimed at ensuring that all families who are currently enrolled in Brighter Bites within Mesquite ISD (TX) schools gain access to fresh produce. Brighter Bites is rolling out the initiative for over 700 families, and coupons were mailed out in early August. Perishable News, The Packer, The Produce News, Produce Blue Book, and And Now U Know covered this new program.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue visited a Maryland farm to promote the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program. Brighter Bites and its partnership with Coastal Produce were mentioned in this WMAR-ABC/Baltimore piece.
Nonprofits such as Brighter Bites have evolved during the COVID-19 crisis in order to serve even more families in need. The Ft. Myers Free Press published an op-ed highlighting Brighter Bites’ programming, as well as the programming of other nonprofit organizations in the area.
Fresh produce advocate Lori Taylor of The Produce Moms teamed up with Brighter Bites’ Dr. Shreela Sharma to speak at this year’s Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior’s annual conference. The primary topic included child nutrition programming and how the two organizations are working to demystify how families can buy and prepare fresh fruits and vegetables. And Now U Know and The Packer covered the event.
Brighter Bites will continue to provide free produce to Houston-area schools, no matter what the re-opening scenario may be. Read more about our flexible distribution plans and our upcoming Google platform app in Outsmart Magazine.