Partnership Enhances Fresh Produce Access for D.C. Schoolchildren and Families
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), a national nonprofit dedicated to fostering healthier lifestyles through improved food access, has forged a significant partnership with Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization known for its impactful initiatives in providing fresh produce and nutrition education to schoolchildren and their families. This collaboration aims to deliver over 1.5 million servings of fresh fruits and vegetables to the D.C. area, primarily benefiting families with limited access to nutritious food.
With a ,000 grant from PHA, this partnership forms part of the larger “Good Food Cities” initiative, which seeks to dismantle barriers to affordable, healthy food through local, community-driven systems. The overarching goal of this initiative is to double the consumption of fruits and vegetables in urban areas by 2030. By backing Brighter Bites’ evidence-based approach, PHA is taking concrete steps to elevate food equity and nurture healthier eating habits among economically disadvantaged families in Washington, D.C.
Noreen Springstead, PHA’s President and CEO, expressed the urgency of addressing childhood hunger and nutrition disparities nationwide. “Ending the experience of hunger and closing the nutrition gap for children must be a nation-wide, collaborative effort,” Springstead stated. “Brighter Bites has an impressive record of fostering healthy habits among children and families through the essential combination of increased access and targeted education.”
Brighter Bites operates a program that provides families of elementary school children with around 20 pounds of fresh produce each week for 16 weeks during the school year, as well as a 4-6 week summer program. Each distribution is complemented by nutrition education materials, including recipes and practical tips, to encourage families to prepare healthy meals together. The program also integrates the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) curriculum in classrooms to sustain healthy practices throughout the school year.
Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites, characterized the grant from PHA as a “powerful endorsement” of their mission to facilitate access to fresh food. “Consistent access to fresh produce and nutrition education during childhood is crucial for instilling lifelong healthy eating habits,” he asserted. This partnership not only aims to supply fresh food but also invests in educational support for families, thereby promoting enduring healthy choices.
The initiative builds upon the collective impact model aimed at achieving health equity and mitigating the prevalence of diet-related diseases. As such, the collaboration between PHA and Brighter Bites is poised to serve as a template for similar initiatives across the nation, catalyzing positive health outcomes in communities facing similar challenges.
About Partnership for a Healthier America
Founded alongside former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign in 2010, the Partnership for a Healthier America works to promote equitable access to nutritious food, engaging diverse stakeholders from community organizations to corporations and governments. Understanding that nutrition is key to healthier living, PHA advocates for systemic changes that support community health. Learn more about their initiatives at ahealthieramerica.org.
About Brighter Bites
Brighter Bites is committed to building communities of health through increased access to fresh produce and nutrition education. Their multi-component programs target elementary schools, preschools, and summer camps to effect behavioral change that prevents childhood obesity and promotes long-term health. Since 2012, Brighter Bites has distributed over 75 million pounds of fresh produce to families in various U.S. cities, impacting over one million individuals. For more information, visit brighterbites.org.
