PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md.— Brighter Bites is a nonprofit organization that offers free and nutritious food to families in Maryland, with a particular focus on Prince George’s County. TheBayNet recently sat down with Megan Hall, senior director of programs at Brighter Bites, to discuss how they help Maryland families thrive and how community members can get involved in their mission
A recent study indicated that Brighter Bites has a significant impact on the people that it serves. Not only does the research show that Brighter Bites recipients build healthier eating habits, but also that they take more time to read nutrition labels before making a purchase
Brighter Bites has shipped 4.2 million pounds of fresh produce to people in need of assistance, helping tens of thousands of families keep food on the table. We’ve highlighted a few key points from our interview below, so let’s dive into how Brighter Bites is creating a brighter future for families across the United States
Brighter Bites Works Toward Building A Stronger Community Together
Megan told TheBayNet that while increasing access to healthy food and nutrition education is essential, another important goal is to build tight-knit communities
“Yes, we increase access to fresh produce. We provide nutrition education, which ultimately builds lifelong, healthy habits for families, but we also build community, and we bring families together on their school campus; places where they’re already going routinely. We help kind of tighten that network and that community closeness so that families not only have access to the res to support their families as well.”
As Megan explained, building community is just as important as offering food assistance because it creates long-lasting impacts for the people living in the area
Brighter Bites Provides Assistance At A Time Of Uncertainty
Megan shared that as food assistance programs like SNAP continue to undergo changes, Brighter Bites can be a constant during a challenging time
“There’s a lot of uncertainty around SNAP changes and changes in food assistance programs. Access to fresh produce becomes more uncertain, and so that’s where Brighter Bites does come in and help provide stability with our biweekly produce distributions
“SNAP is a critical foundation for many families, and so as those programs change, partnerships like Brighter Bites can be even more important for families and school communities to ensure that they have continued access to fresh produce that supports their healthy habits.”
Over 35,000 people have recently lost SNAP benefits in Maryland, so Brighter Bites is delivering produce to families at an essential time
Nutrition Education Is An Essential Part Of The Brighter Bites Mission
Getting food to families is one of the biggest ways that Brighter Bites is helping local communities, but it isn’t the only service they provide. As Megan shared, nutrition education is just as important
“The biggest component is in classroom education. We operate a train-the-trainer model where our staff trains homeroom or classroom teachers how to implement the CATCH curriculum, which is the coordinated approach to child health. It’s an evidence-based health curriculum, and so we ask that teachers conduct one nutrition education lesson from that curriculum once a month.”
Megan also explained that Brighter Bites offers tips to families when they come to pick food up, yet another avenue for parents to learn about healthy nutrition. For example:
“If you’re wanting to use black beans or a canned vegetable item, go for the low-sodium option to help support your health in that way. We help families stretch their produce dollars by just learning a few tips and tricks of both utilizing fresh produce, as well as other ingredients that can support their health.”
Learning tips to conserve food can be invaluable to families on a budget, and Brighter Bites prioritizes education alongside assistance
Anybody Could Be Struggling With Food Insecurity
One of the most important questions that we asked Megan was regarding misconceptions surrounding food insecurity. She told TheBayNet that the best thing to remember is that anybody could be struggling with food insecurity, even if it’s not obvious to the untrained eye
“I would say the number one thing is that it’s your next-door neighbor; it could be anyone. There’s no one archetype or caricature of someone who’s experiencing hunger or food insecurity.”
Another topic that Megan touched on was the need to provide families with enough food to feed their children during the summer. Many children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals when they attend public school, but families aren’t receiving this assistance during June, July and August
“I think especially with families, it can be really hard, and during the summer too, of course, because many children receive two if not more meals at school.”
Whether child or adult, Brighter Bites aims to help American families struggling with food insecurity wherever they may be found, and you can get involved, too
How Can You Help Brighter Bites Fulfill Its Mission?
There are a variety of ways that local community members can get involved with Brighter Bites. Those who wish to volunteer can explore opportunities on this webpage, while you can make a one-time or recurring donation to Brighter Bites here. Occasionally, Brighter Bites also lists internships and job opportunities on their website
Brighter Bites is working toward a brighter future where every family has access to the nutrition they need to thrive, and you can be a part of their mission too in a myriad of different ways. To learn more about this nonprofit or seek nutrition assistance, visit BrighterBites.org
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