Lipman Family Farms, Immokalee, Fla., and Harry Chapin Food Bank, southwest Florida’s largest food bank, have partnered with Brighter Bites to provide produce to families in need.
The partnership’s goal is to provide low-income children and their families with fresh fruit and vegetables along with healthy recipes, nutrition education resources and in-class health education, according to a news release.
“Many hungry families struggle to eat healthy food on a budget. Teaching them how to do that is an important priority for us,” Richard LeBer, president and CEO of Harry Chapin Food Bank, said in the release.
“That’s why we’re very excited to bring Brighter Bites’ effective programs to Southwest Florida.”
Brighter Bites’ spring and summer programs will provide 75,000 pounds of produce plus eductional materials to more than 600 families and teachers in two Collier County, Fla., schools and a Boys and Girls Club, according to the release.
Harry Chapin Food Bank and Lipman Family Farms plan to donate fresh produce, warehousing and transportation services as part of the program, according to the release.
“Over the past couple of years, Lipman Family Farms has donated tomatoes to Brighter Bites programs in Houston, Dallas, and Austin (Texas), and we’ve been proud of our association with the program and its impact on so many lives,” Jaime Weisinger, director of community relations and government relations for Lipman Family Farms, said in the release.
“When there was an opportunity to bring the program to southwest Florida, we jumped at the chance.”
Brighter Bites has distributed more than 16 million pounds of produce since launching in 2012, according to the release.