Our Team

The people behind every bag.

Founders

Lisa Helfman

Founder & Board Chair

Lisa Helfman is the founder and board chair of Brighter Bites. In the fall of 2011,…

Shreela Sharma, PhD

Co-Founder

Dr. Shreela Sharma is co-founder of Brighter Bites. Dr. Sharma is responsible for operationalizing the Brighter…

National Team

Christina Maynor

Senior Manager of Branding and Program Support

Christina Maynor is the Senior Manager of Branding and Program Support for Brighter Bites. She received…

Rich Dachman

Chief Executive Officer

Rich Dachman is the Chief Executive Officer of Brighter Bites. Rich comes to Brighter Bites with…

Mike Pomeroy, MPH

Vice President of Programs

Mike serves as Vice President of Programs of Brighter Bites, overseeing programmatic aspects of Brighter Bites,…

Houston
Dallas
Austin
NYC
Washington, D.C.
Southwest Florida

Michael Carpenter

Program Supervisor

Michael Carpenter is a Program Supervisor for Brighter Bites in Houston. Michael began his tenure with…

Katie Degen

Senior Program Manager

Katie Degen is a program manager for Brighter Bites in Houston. She received her undergraduate degree…

Thelma Green

Senior Program Manager

Thelma Green is a Senior Program Manager for Brighter Bites in Houston. When she was two…

Tibisay Guzman

Senior Program Coordinator

Tibisay Guzman is a program coordinator for Brighter Bites in Houston. She began her career at…

Anjanette Nikodym

Senior Program Coordinator

Anjanette Nikodym is a senior program coordinator for Brighter Bites in Houston. She began working with…

Maryann Aguinaga

Program Supervisor

Maryann is a Program Supervisor for Brighter Bites in Dallas. Her journey with Brighter Bites began…

Melanie Button, MPH

Project Manager

Melanie Button is a project manager for Brighter Bites, overseeing our NYC and Washington, D.C area…

Gina Flores

Senior Program Manager

Gina Flores is the Senior Program Manager for Brighter Bites in NYC. A true New Yorker,…

Rajni Sood Laurent

Senior Program Manager

Senior Program Manager Rajni Sood Laurent is a mom, baker, and lover of fresh foods. She…

The Fruit Loop

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Jul 29

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Jul 27

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Jul 24

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They say not to play with your food... but it's Friday, so we'll make an exception. 😉🍎🥕 What are you creating with fruits and veggies this weekend?

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Jul 23

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Jul 22

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Leafy greens deserve a spot on your table 🌿⁠
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Our Smoky Greens recipe transforms everyday greens into a flavorful, family-friendly side with a hint of smoky goodness. It's an easy way to add more vegetables to your plate and discover a new favorite.⁠
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Save this recipe for your next dinner and let us know if you give it a try! ❤️⁠
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BrighterBites #EatMoreGreens #HealthyRecipes

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Jul 21

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Stories of change are happening in communities across the country, and Sara's story from Bakersfield is one of them. ⁠
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For families like Sara's, Brighter Bites is more than a produce distribution. It's confidence in the kitchen, healthier meals around the table, and the opportunity to build habits that last.⁠
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Our summer programming is in full swing, bringing fresh produce, nutrition education, and healthy recipes to families when school is out and access to healthy food can be more limited. Every distribution is another opportunity to make healthy choices easier and help children grow up with a love of fruits and vegetables.⁠
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Because creating healthier communities doesn't stop in the summer, it happens one family, one meal, and one story at a time.

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Jul 20

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"I truly appreciate the support with groceries. It has made a positive impact on my family and helped us save money. Thank you for your generosity!” ⁠
- Brighter Bites family⁠
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Brighter Bites helps put healthy food on the table all year long, providing more than just nutritious produce. The program provides meaningful relief by helping families afford healthy foods, making nutritious choices more accessible.⁠
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Join us this summer by becoming part of the Brighter Bunch, our community of sustaining monthly givers, and help support families when they need it most. ⁠
www.brighterbites.org/summer2026

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Jul 19

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Just in case you needed an excuse to eat ice cream today....Happy National Ice Cream Day! 🍦🍨⁠
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We're celebrating with our Banana Ice Cream. It's creamy and delicious and packed with nutrition! Hurry up and enjoy this ice cream before it melts!⁠
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INGREDIENTS:⁠
10 very ripe bananas⁠
½ cup low-fat milk⁠
¼ cup honey⁠
½ tsp vanilla extract⁠
⅛ tsp ground nutmeg⁠
Feel free to add flavorings, toppings, or mix-ins like cinnamon, cocoa powder, dried fruit, nuts, jam, coconut flakes, or fresh fruit! ⁠
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DIRECTIONS:⁠
Peel bananas and freeze overnight in a freezer bag. Remove the bananas from the freezer and blend in blender or food processor until smooth. Slowly add the remaining ingredients and blend until the bananas have a “frozen yogurt” consistency. (If you have an ice cream maker, pour mixture into maker and churn until there is an “ice cream” texture.) Serve immediately or store in the freezer for up to one week.

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Jul 17

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Jul 16

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Jul 15

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Jul 14

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This month, we celebrate salad greens! 🥬⁠
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Whether layered into sandwiches, tossed into colorful salads, or blended into smoothies, greens are a versatile ingredient that can help families build healthy habits one meal at a time.⁠
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This July, we're proud to celebrate our partnership with @yourtaylorfarms. Their support helps Brighter Bites families access fresh produce and build healthy habits that last.⁠
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What's your favorite salad green? Comment below!

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Jul 13

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Jul 10

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Community is stronger when we show up for one another. ❤️⁠
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Our Greater DC Metro team recently volunteered with Martha's Table, supporting their Joyful Food Market which helps families access fresh produce in Wards 7 and 8 in Washington, D.C.⁠
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As an organization dedicated to serving families, we love having the chance to give back alongside other nonprofits making a difference. Building relationships with partners like Martha's Table makes our collective impact even stronger.⁠
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Thank you for having us! ❤️

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Jul 9

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💚 Add a little green to your smoothie!⁠
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A handful of spinach or kale is an easy way to add extra nutrition for kids and adults—while the fruit keeps every sip naturally sweet. 🍓🍌🥬⁠
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Blend up our Hulk Smoothie and fuel your day with more fruits, veggies, and fiber!

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Jul 8

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A big thank you to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas for investing in healthier futures for children and families in Dallas and San Antonio. ❤️⁠
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Together, we're helping make fresh food and nutrition education more accessible while empowering families to build healthy habits that last.⁠
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Jul 7

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From picky eater to proud helper in the kitchen. ❤️⁠
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Cooking together helps children build confidence, explore new foods, and create healthy habits that last.⁠

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Jul 6

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Jul 4

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Jul 3

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This past June, our NYC team was excited to take part in this year's Food & Nutrition Education Summit hosted by the Food Education Team at @NYCSchools! 🍎⁠
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This year, Brighter Bites served 17 NYC public schools through the Nutrition Collaborative and Food Education Grant programs, expanding access to fresh produce and nutrition education across New York City.⁠
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We're grateful to work alongside so many incredible partners and a Department of Education that continues to champion student health and wellness. Together, we're helping more kids and families build healthy habits that last a lifetime. ❤️

Our Team

Founders

Lisa Helfman

Founder & Board Chair

Shreela Sharma, PhD

Co-Founder

National Team

Christina Maynor

Senior Manager of Branding and Program Support

Rich Dachman

Chief Executive Officer

Mike Pomeroy, MPH

Vice President of Programs

Michael Carpenter

Program Supervisor

Katie Degen

Senior Program Manager

Thelma Green

Senior Program Manager

Tibisay Guzman

Senior Program Coordinator

Anjanette Nikodym

Senior Program Coordinator

Maryann Aguinaga

Program Supervisor

Melanie Button, MPH

Project Manager

Gina Flores

Senior Program Manager

Rajni Sood Laurent

Senior Program Manager

Board of Directors

Faiyaz A. Bhojani, MD, DrPH

Chief Executive Officer

MRZ Medical Group, PLLC

Joel Grade

Executive Vice President, Business Development

Sysco

Steven Graubart

President & CEO

Community Hospital Partners

Lisa Helfman

Director of Public Affairs, Houston

H-E-B Grocery Company

Scott McClelland

Board Member Emeritus

Benjamin Samuels

Director

Samuels Family Foundation

Manolo Sánchez

Director

Fannie Mae

Shreela Sharma, PhD

Professor of Epidemiology

UTHealth School of Public Health

Sue Smith

Executive Vice President

Craig and Galen Brown Foundation

Vic Smith

Chief Executive Officer

JV Smith Companies

The Fruit Loop