HOUSTON, TX - Brighter Bites, a national nonprofit that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, announced the launch of its annual Summer and Back-to-School Fundraising Campaign: Nourish Their Potential. The campaign aims to provide thousands of children and families in under-resourced communities with access to healthy food, nutrition education, and wellness resources as schools close for summer and prepare to reopen in the fall.

As part of a broader $1.5 trillion federal spending reduction proposal currently under consideration in the Senate, funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) is at risk of being eliminated. The implications of such a decision would be devastating to the program. SNAP-Ed is a cornerstone of funding in Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Mexico. Together, this represents over 40% of Brighter Bites’ overall funding, which is $4.3 million. It appears inevitable that if this proposal moves forward, Brighter Bites would lose the resources needed to sustain its presence in these communities, impacting over 163,000 individuals. That means fewer families receiving fresh produce, fewer children gaining essential nutrition education, and a missed opportunity to build healthy habits that last a lifetime. Rallying support is more important now than ever.

“This campaign is about more than meals—it’s about giving kids the fuel they need to thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally,” said Lindsay Jenkins, Director of Development at Brighter Bites, in a recent press release. “With support from the community and our partners, we can reach more families than ever this year.”

Brighter Bites is actively seeking produce companies and distributors to support Brighter Bites’ work by donating fresh fruits and vegetables to support fall programming. Food banks across the country are facing increased demand while struggling with reduced federal support and fewer donations. This decline in resources has taken a toll on the quantity and variety of produce that Brighter Bites is able to provide for families participating in the program, making the support of the produce industry critical. Contributions of any size are welcome and will directly support the distribution of weekly produce bags for families throughout the school year.

Companies interested in partnering can contact Amy Priebe at [email protected] or visit www.brighterbites.org/produce-partners to learn more and pledge a donation.

How to Support the Campaign:

• Donate: Make a one-time or recurring gift online at www.brighterbites.org/nourishtheirpotential
• Partner: Produce companies can donate product and help scale our impact
• Spread the Word: Share our campaign with friends, coworkers, and your social networks

Together, we can ensure that every child returns to school healthy, strong, and ready to succeed.

For more information about how to support the campaign, visit www.brighterbites.org/nourishtheirpotential, or follow the organization on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or YouTube.