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.
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.
Rich Dachman talks Wine 🍎 🍊 🍇 Check out these timely yard signs!
Brighter Bites in Houston has been working six days per week with partners Houston Food Bank and YMCA of Greater Houston to provide fresh, immune-boosting produce to the communities in Houston that have needed it most during these recent challenging times.
According to Senior Program Director Mike Pomeroy,”In April alone we distributed nearly 1.3 million pounds of produce to approximately 60,000 families across the Greater Houston area thanks in large part to the produce supplied by the Houston Food Bank and the YMCA employees who helped us assemble produce bags and distribute them to members of the community. This has been an incredible effort by staff members of all our organizations.”
To see the distribution schedule for the remainder of May, click here.
Brighter Bites, Houston Food Bank, and YMCA sent a press release to the media before these numbers were known. The media covered the story in a variety of local Houston outlets:
By Mira Slott, Pundit Investigator and Special Projects Editor, Perishable Pundit, Produce Business, May 14, 2020
It has been a long time since our first mention of Rich Dachman in the Pundit:
Dachman To Head Sysco’s Produce Division
But we’ve remained engaged:
2018 London Produce Show’s Thought-Leader Breakfast Features All-Star Cast Of Industry Luminaries
Foodservice Forum At New York Produce Show Puts Produce First On Restaurant Menus
Industry Veterans And Rising Stars Volunteer To Lead University Interchange Mentorship Program
Now, at this moment of pandemic, a lifetime of preparation has put Rich in a situation where he can do a lot of good for the world.
We asked Pundit Investigator and Special Projects Editor Mira Slott to find out how.
Read the rest of the story here.
Dana & Jay In the Morning on 99.1 FM in Houston is talking about the YardPeeps signs that Robyn Rosen Goldstein made to honor frontline and essential workers. Proceed from the signs are going to Brighter Bites. Check out the story here!
HOUSTON – A Houston mom is showing her appreciation to the frontline and essential workers by creating these cute yard signs and the $20 signs are popping up everywhere.
As of Saturday, the woman had over 900 orders. All of the proceeds will benefit Brighter Bites Houston, a non-profit that also supports the Houston Food Bank.
Robyn Rosen Goldstein, the creator of the signs, says she is shipping nationwide and has already sold to more than 20 states.
Check out the story that aired today on KPRC – Channel 2 in Houston.
April 27, 2020
By Lillian Diep, And Now U Know
HOUSTON, TX – The current public health crisis has brought much uncertainty to our lives, but is especially magnified for those who are food insecure. However, in times like these, heroes in the industry are teaming up to provide fresh produce to those in need. Brighter Bites has formed partnerships with H-E-B, Southeastern Grocers, and Winn-Dixie to provide $25 produce vouchers bi-weekly to every Brighter Bites household for fruit and vegetable purchases.
Read the rest of the story on the And Now U Know website.
Brighter Bites Launches Produce Voucher Program to Continue to Support Food Insecure Families during Coronavirus Pandemic Nonprofit rolls out $2 million COVID-19 relief program
Houston, TX (April 23, 2020) – The combined public health crisis and economic collapse inflicting our nation has brought much uncertainty to all of our lives, but is especially magnified for those who identify as food insecure. With the onset of the COVID-19 crisis and widespread school closures, 25,000 families in Houston, Austin, New York City, Washington, D.C. and Southwest Florida who normally rely on nonprofit Brighter Bites for weekly produce and nutrition education are now in even more need of daily nourishment. These are families who already struggle to make ends meet.
Today, Brighter Bites is announcing a new, emergency initiative aimed at ensuring that all families who are currently enrolled in Brighter Bites around the U.S. have the opportunity to access fresh produce when they need it most.
Brighter Bites is rolling out the initiative this week for 14,100 families In Houston and Austin in partnership with the Texas grocery retailer H-E-B and next week for 1,100 families in Southwest Florida with Southeastern Grocers, parent company of Winn-Dixie stores.
Brighter Bites is giving $25 produce vouchers bi-weekly to every Brighter Bites household for fruit and vegetable purchases over the next two-three months at H-E-B and Winn-Dixie stores. This initiative will ensure no Brighter Bites family has to forfeit health or safety in order to survive this crisis.
“This is a time that our families need healthy food more than ever to boost their immune systems. When schools closed and our distribution model was interrupted we knew we had to pivot our business,” said Brighter Bites CEO Rich Dachman. “Brighter Bites will continue providing our families with fruits and vegetables through this program, allowing them to maintain the same level of produce in their homes as they did through Brighter Bites distributions. We could not have executed this program without the partnership of H-E-B, Southeastern Grocers, and Winn-Dixie. We are so grateful for their support.”
Dachman added Brighter Bites will convert its online nutrition education programs to a distance learning model.
Under normal circumstances, Brighter Bites works with their families across 100 plus schools in six cities, with each family receiving 25 pounds of fresh, seasonal produce and nutrition education on a weekly basis. Brighter Bites families were actively engaged in the program, and data shows that they were consuming significantly more fresh produce and talking about nutrition more often in their homes, too.
To sustain this program for all Brighter Bites families for the next two to three months, the nonprofit will need to raise additional funding to continue issuing produce vouchers to families until this crisis subsides. To make a donation please visit www.brighterbites.org.
About Brighter Bites:
Brighter Bites is a nonprofit that creates communities of health through fresh food with the goal of changing behavior among children and their families to prevent obesity and achieve long-term health. Brighter Bites is an evidence-based, multi-component elementary school, preschool, and summer camp program that utilizes reliable access to fruits and vegetables, nutrition education, and consistent exposure to recipes and messages that feature fresh food. Since 2012, Brighter Bites has provided more than 27 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 275,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, and Southwest Florida. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.
This story was published in the following publications:
PROVIDING MORE PRODUCE TO NEIGHBORHOODS IS GOAL OF PARTNERSHIP WITH THREE NON-PROFITS
HOUSTON – April 17, 2020 … Now more than ever, it is important for us all to incorporate healthy eating into our daily lives to keep our immune systems strong during the COVID-19 crisis. For those with already limited access to food, this time can be especially challenging, including accessing fresh fruits and vegetables. But a partnership with three local non-profits is working to make sure that more fresh produce is available in neighborhoods that need it the most across Houston.
Recently, Houston Food Bank had the opportunity to secure an increased amount of produce and jumped at the chance to ensure distribution of this valuable commodity to as many people as possible. To channel this produce out to the community, they are joining forces for produce distributions with YMCA of Greater Houston and Brighter Bites.
The food bank and YMCA had already begun working together on other projects when the idea for these additional distributions was born. And for YMCA, this partnership means a great deal to them: other than the fact that they are able to help ensure that individuals and families are able to put fresh and healthy food on their table, this partnership has personal meaning because it has allowed them to bring about 100 of their previously furloughed staff back to work to serve the community.
“YMCA of Greater Houston is honored to partner with the Houston Food Bank and Brighter Bites to ensure families have access to critical food supplies during this difficult time,” says Steve Ives, CEO, YMCA of Greater Houston. “With this powerful partnership, we will be able to better serve the Greater Houston area and those communities struggling to put food on the table.”
All of the produce is provided by Houston Food Bank. Brighter Bites, a local non-profit that delivers fresh produce and nutrition education to families to help them healthier habits, is participating by training and monitoring staff at the sites to make sure that the packing of the bags/boxes has balanced nutrition distribution.
“We are so very proud of our partnership with the Houston Food Bank and the YMCA of Greater Houston during this crisis,” says Brighter Bites CEO Rich Dachman. “It is because of this incredible joint effort that thousands of Houston families will be receiving a weekly supply of free fresh fruits and vegetables to help them create healthy meals at a time when they need to increase their immunity while their financial resources may be even more limited.”
The produce distributions are taking place at locations throughout the city, using a drive-thru model and social distancing (mask, gloves, etc.) in keeping with CDC recommendations. Each distribution will include at least 20 pallets of fresh produce (16,000 – 20,000 pounds) and expects to serve 2,400 families each day (800 families per site, currently).
“COVID-19 has impacted every facet of life, including access to food and dining habits,” says Brian Greene, president/CEO of Houston Food Bank. “But we want to make sure that the food we distribute during this crisis remains produce focused as it is during ‘normal’ times. We want to always provide food for better lives, and we are grateful for the strong relationships we have with other social service organizations so that together we can best serve the community.”
About YMCA of Greater Houston
First organized in 1886, the YMCA of Greater Houston is one of the city’s leading non-profits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The YMCA, a United Way of Greater Houston agency, seeks to serve all – regardless of age, income, faith or background and we welcome everyone. In the greater Houston area, 25 YMCA facilities, one overnight camp and hundreds of program sites strive to empower youth, build healthier families and foster inclusive communities. Anchored in the Houston community, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. To learn more, call 713-659-5566 or visit us on the web at www.ymcahouston.org.
About Brighter Bites
Brighter Bites is a nonprofit that creates communities of health through fresh food with the goal of changing behavior among children and their families to prevent obesity and achieve long-term health. Brighter Bites is an evidence-based, multi-component elementary school, preschool, and summer camp program that utilizes reliable access to fruits and vegetables, nutrition education, and consistent exposure to recipes and messages that feature fresh food. Since 2012, Brighter Bites has provided more than 27 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 275,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, and Southwest Florida. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.
About Houston Food Bank
Houston Food Bank’s mission is to provide food for better lives. Last year we provided access to 104 million nutritious meals in 18 counties in southeast Texas through our 1,500 community partners which includes food pantries, soup kitchens, social service providers and schools. We have a strong focus on healthy foods and fresh produce. In addition to distributing food, we provide services and connections to programs that address the root causes of hunger and are aimed at helping families achieve long-term stability, including nutrition education, job training, health management and help with securing state-funded assistance. We are a resource for individuals and families in times of hardship. We are a solution to food waste, working with grocery stores and growers to rescue food before it reaches landfills. In collaboration with our community, we advocate for policy change and promote dialogue on ways to increase access to food and to improve the lives of those we serve. Houston Food Bank works alongside our partner food banks in Montgomery County, Galveston Country, and Brazos Valley. Houston Food Bank is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network, with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator.
This story was published in the following publications: