Keyword/Tag: Houston Food Bank

Feeding Houston: Brighter Bites, Houston Food Bank and Cougar Cupboard

Posted on April 17, 2024 by -

We cover a number of gourmet restaurants, booming burger joints and primo pizza parlors here in the Houston Press. And as much as we enjoy scouting out new cafes and happy hour hotspots, we also realize that a large number of Houstonians not only lack the means to dine out but also face hunger within their homes as well.

We are a massively spread out city and arguably the most diverse in the nation. And meeting the needs of those facing food insecurity is a daunting task. One organization alone cannot serve all of Houston’s families and residents in need. Houston Food Bank, the nation’s largest food bank network, serves 18 southeast Texas counties. That’s a lot of people to feed.

There are other organizations, however, that also have arisen in the past few years to provide more than just boxes of non-perishable foods, but also fresh produce and education. Working together, these non-profits benefit those in need of food and healthy habits. And some of them have experienced some big boosts lately in their efforts to do so.

Brighter Bites

Recently, we were invited to the Brighter Bites Second Anniversary Gala to meet with some of its organizers and strategists, folks who aim to not only provide school children with fresh produce but also educate families about the preservation and cooking of the precious ingredients.

Brighter Bites, which began in 2012, is the brainchild of founder and board chair Lisa Helfman and co-founder Dr. Shreela Sharma. Helfman attributes her inspiration for the non-profit to her decision years ago to take part in a weekly fruit and vegetable co-op to provide fresh produce for her family. One day her 6-year-old son, now a young man seated in the audience, turned down a slice of cake at a party because it was too sweet and asked instead for some berries. Helfman says she realized then that exposing children to healthy foods could make a difference but that not all children have access to fresh produce.

She began a collaboration with Dr. Sharma, a nutrition expert and professor of epidemiology at UTHealth School of Public Health. They started with local schools, providing fruits and vegetables donated by produce partners. Some students did not even recognize the different berries, citrus and greens.

Click to read the full article.

Brighter Bites Continues 8-Year Partnership with Houston Food Bank to Serve Students, Families in Need

Posted on February 2, 2021 by -

BRIGHTER BITES CONTINUES 8-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH HOUSTON FOOD BANK TO SERVE STUDENTS & FAMILIES IN NEED 

The Partnership Has Resulted In Over 1.2 Million Pounds Of Fresh Produce Donated And Counting

HOUSTON, TX (Feb. 2, 2021) – Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, will continue partnering with the Houston Food Bank, its most critical and longest-standing Houston-area partner, to help serve families in need of fresh food.

Throughout the fall of 2020 and into 2021, Brighter Bites and the Houston Food Bank ensured local families received the fresh produce and nutrition education on schedule, even as the area experienced the uncertainty of the pandemic.

When COVID-19 halted Brighter Bites’ model utilizing parent volunteers to pack donated bulk produce, the Houston Food Bank stepped in to help with continued donations of a variety of fresh produce items, warehouse space, and volunteer support to pack produce boxes in their facility.

“Our Brighter Bites community is so grateful to the Houston Food Bank for its long-standing willingness to help, and its flexibility as we all navigate the evolving needs of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Brighter Bites CEO Rich Dachman. “The Houston Food Bank’s ability to adapt its food supply chain, grant us warehouse space within its facilities, and operate so nimbly, allowed us to continue our work to distribute fresh produce to students, their families, and teachers in Houston.”

Since Brighter Bites 2020-2021 school year programming began in September, the Houston Food Bank has donated over 1.2 million pounds of fresh produce to ensure all 11,000 Houston–area Brighter Bites families received the immune-boosting produce they so critically need during the pandemic.

Brighter Bites and the Houston Food Bank hope to see even more growth this spring with so many efficient systems already in place. Volunteers from both organizations familiar with sorting, packing and distributing the donated fruits and vegetables, will be ready to continue the organizations’ missions of serving families in the greater Houston area.

“Houston Food Bank and Brighter Bites have a shared goal to provide nutritious fresh produce to the community and those impacted by food insecurity,” said Brian Greene, president/CEO of the Food Bank. “Our work is not just critical during the pandemic but beyond, and after a strong eight-year relationship, I am confident that we will continue to expand our reach throughout Houston even after the pandemic subsides.”

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 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 nearly 40 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 475,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, and Southwest Florida. In 2021 Brighter Bites will expand its programming to Salinas, California. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

 About the Houston Food Bank:

Houston Food Bank’s mission is to provide food for better lives. In the last fiscal year, which includes COVID-19 response, we provided access to 159 million nutritious meals in 18 counties in southeast Texas through our 1,500 community partners of food pantries, soup kitchens, social service providers and schools. Filling gaps on plates, we have a strong focus on healthy foods and fresh produce. In collaboration with our community, we advocate for policy change and racial equity, and promote dialogue on ways to increase access to food and to improve the lives of those in our communities, including services and connections to programs that address the root causes of hunger and are aimed at helping families achieve long-term stability, 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. Houston Food Bank works alongside our partner food banks in Montgomery County, Galveston County 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. Visit us online. Website: houstonfoodbank.org; Facebook: www.facebook.com/thehoustonfoodbank; Twitter: @houstonfoodbank; Instagram: @houstonfoodbank; YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/houstonfoodbank

 

Brighter Bites Houston Provides 1.3 Million lbs Produce to 60,000 in April Alone

Posted on May 18, 2020 by -

 

 

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:

Press Release: Brighter Bites, Houston Food Bank and YMCA Partner in Houston

Posted on April 17, 2020 by -

 

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:

 

 

The Facts Features New Brighter Bites Program in Freeport.

Posted on March 31, 2017 by -

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On Thursday March 30th,  The Facts reporter Erinn Callahan visited O.A. Fleming Elementary School in Freeport to report on the newest Texas chapter of the Brighter Bites program. She experienced first hand the thrill of a produce bagging as volunteers from the school community worked quickly to transform the cafeteria into a well oiled produce-packing assembly line.

Read the full story Here.

Houston Chronicle Publishes Sharma Op-Ed on Hunger, Food Waste, and Brighter Bites

Posted on October 27, 2016 by -

Yesterday, the Houston Chronicle published an Op-Ed penned by Brighter Bites Co-Founder Dr. Shreela Sharma. The essay, Eliminating Hunger and Food Waste in the U.S. is an Achievable Goal, was written to coincide with World Food Day, a day in which people from around the world come together to declare their commitment to eradicate hunger. What Dr. Sharma was able to do was link hunger and food insecurity with food waste and obesity, and make the case that Brighter Bites is tackling these issues and converting them into an opportunity to improve public health. Enjoy the read!

Houston Highlights from the Summer Season

Posted on August 5, 2016 by -

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Brighter Bites is wrapping up its fourth summer of programming in Houston next week and the team painted the city with loads of colorful produce, returning to seven sites from last summer and adding four new ones. Every week families have the opportunity to take home fruits and vegetables they are already familiar with and some that are new to them. This summer we received many in-season produce donations, including exotic fruits and vegetables like papaya, mango, chayote, okra, cabbage, blueberries, peaches, and spinach.
In addition to the nutrition education handbooks, tip sheets, recipe cards, and fun food samples for our families, we added food demonstrations (how to cut a mango, for example) to our repertoire of educational tools. They not only return home with fresh fruits and vegetables, but also the knowledge of how to use them!

As always, volunteers, parents, and children sampled our nutrition-packed snacks that always incorporate one or more of the produce items in their bags. One week we served Black Bean Dip and initially the kids looked away. After a brave girl tried it, other kids slowly gave in. By the end of the distribution, the entire sample was gone! Other popular recipes this summer have included the Razzle Dazzle Rainbow Salsa and Pineapple Crush Smoothie.

There’s more: program coordinators in Houston have taught over 150 CATCH lessons this summer alone! That’s more than 50 hours of nutrition education in eight weeks! Each week kids learn about physical activity, sugar, fiber, fat, breakfast, fruits, or veggies. We also incorporated the Sunbeatables program that stresses the importance of sun protection. Our staff has loved returning each week to hear what the kids remember from the previous lesson and how they applied that knowledge at home.

A big thanks to the Houston Food Bank and all of our partners that have made it possible for our team to share a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables with communities across Houston this summer. As always, our mission to serve families nutritious, fresh produce and promote behavior change wouldn’t be possible without our faithful parent volunteers who consistently came out to bag and distribute thousands pounds of produce this summer.

Cele(ry)brating Our Volunteers

Posted on May 31, 2016 by -

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Volunteers are vital to the success of Brighter Bites and without them we could not serve the thousands of families during the year. To show our deep appreciation, the Houston Brighter Bites team celebrated all the volunteers from the school year at a Volunteer Appreciation Party on May 19 at the Houston Food Bank. It was an event to remember!

About 130 people attended from 21 of our Houston schools. The day was filled with food, stories, pictures, and laughs. Keeping in true Brighter Bites form, program coordinator Christina Blick made a healthy lunch consisting of chicken salad sandwiches, tomato basil soup, avocado-lime dip, and banana ice cream. The families even received these recipes and a measuring cup as party favors! It wouldn’t be a party without raffle prizes for our guests of honor! Cookbooks,  plastic food containers, radios, and blenders were awarded to several lucky winners! We also had a fun photo booth for kids (and parents!) with giant fruit and vegetable props — all of the pictures are on the Brighter Bites Facebook page.

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To end the day, we offered tours of the Houston Food Bank. The volunteers absolutely loved seeing where all that produce comes from! The party was a huge success and we had a great time celebrating and thanking our volunteers for everything they do. Holy guacamole, we can’t wait until next year to do it again!