Keyword/Tag: volunteer

Fridays at Oran M. Roberts Elementary

Posted on May 5, 2015 by -

Every Friday when I wake up and realize it’s my day to go to Oran M. Roberts Elementary School in Dallas, I get excited. I love working with the parent volunteers at this school. We are a well-oiled machine, moving heavy boxes of produce together, filling Brighter Bites bags with fruits and vegetables as we dance to the rhythm of Latin Beats, and distributing delicious food samples to families at pick up. Last week we bagged a total of about 8,500 pounds of produce into 270 pairs of Brighter Bites bags. Not bad for just one morning! One of our hardest workers, Leona Santos, was able to take a break in between her volunteering duties last Friday and shared her thoughts on Brighter Bites. Santos, as she likes to be called, did not have a lot of food available while growing up in Mexico. Fruit was a luxury and vegetables were rare. “This program has helped me appreciate what we receive,” she told me, “and to show my children to be grateful for what they have.” Santos is excited for the opportunity to give her kids what she was not able to have when she was growing up.

Leona Santos, parent volunteer at Oran M. Roberts Elementary in Dallas.

Leona Santos, parent volunteer at Oran M. Roberts Elementary in Dallas.

Her children, who are 8 and 14 years old, love eating a variety of food. They enjoy their mother’s vegetable soups, which usually include carrots, potatoes and any of the delicious veggies that show up in her Brighter Bites bags each week. They always ask for seconds and Santos appreciates that now she has the opportunity to expose her kids to a range of produce in her soups and other recipes.

LEADERSHIP AT ITS BEST

Posted on April 21, 2015 by -

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John Quincy Adams once said “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” The parent volunteers at John Quincy Adams Elementary School in Dallas definitely agree that their community liaison, Ana Barbosa sets a great example of a leader that is inspiring. The volunteer team is comprised of parents that truly hold Ms. Barbosa in high regard due to her willingness and commitment to foster an environment of community togetherness. When the Brighter Bites program was first introduced at John Quincy Adams Elementary, it was immediately evident that we would be working with an innovative liaison. Ms. Barbosa quickly created an efficient punch card system to use during our Brighter Bites distribution. This new system has allowed us to have an effortless produce distribution and in turn continues to provide more opportunities to engage with families. Ms. Barbosa is well known for showing her deep appreciation for the volunteers. She hosts numerous volunteer appreciation luncheons and activities throughout the year. Ana Barbosa is a rooting fan of Brighter Bites and when asked what she thought about it she stated “The program is awesome! Especially for the parents, it is helping them tremendously.” She also mentioned that having Brighter Bites at her school has helped the volunteer program grow and almost double in numbers. The staff at Brighter Bites in Dallas is thrilled with Ana’s leadership. The future certainly does look bright at John Quincy Adams Elementary.  

A Shining Star at C.F. Carr

Posted on April 7, 2015 by -

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At C.F. Carr Elementary in Dallas, Brighter Bites is thriving! The principal, Ms. Ruiz, is an absolute delight to work with and is a cheerleader for our program. Her energy is contagious, making the staff and volunteers excited about the program as well. One volunteer who goes above and beyond is Rebeca Cisneros. Although we always provide the necessary tools for a successful distribution, Rebeca actually created her own Brighter Bites apron to use on the day she volunteers! The pockets of the apron are filled with items she may need including gloves, pens and a box cutter for efficiently bagging produce. Rebeca sets a great example for her granddaughters who always offer to help clean up after the volunteers complete their job. Rebeca has also made several delicious recipes with the Brighter Bites produce and gladly shares pictures of her creations. She even brought pickled carrots and onions for us to try one day — she made them using a recipe from one of our parent handbooks. Rebeca said it was easy to prepare and the vegetables tasted great! We love knowing our families are using the tools we provide them to prepare healthy meals at home. Thanks, Rebeca! You are just one stellar example of the awesome volunteers at C.F. Carr who help the program flourish!

Teaming Up the Mills Way

Posted on March 31, 2015 by -

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At Roger Q. Mills Elementary in Dallas, parent involvement is not only recognized, it is also cherished. Two committed volunteers that you will find in the parent involvement room at Mills almost every day of the week are Fay Craig and Samira Sawaqed. These two wonderful ladies work tirelessly to ensure that they are actively participating in their children and grandchildren’s education and school activities, one of them being Brighter Bites. While Samira finishes packing the last items of fresh produce in the Brighter Bites bags at record speeds, Fay is setting up the rosters and parent sign in sheets, ready to greet the families with a smile. Samira’s enthusiasm is overwhelming. “To put it simply,” she says, “I just love Brighter Bites!” Fay loves the program’s mission and the positive affect it’s having on many Mills families, including her own, to eat better quality foods, ensure that the children are well nourished and prepare the students to focus in the classroom. The can-do attitude of these two champion volunteers adds up to a winning formula for Brighter Bites’ success.

An Uplifting Morning at Williams Prep!

Posted on March 24, 2015 by -

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Parent Volunteer Ana Razo

Volunteers at Uplift Williams Preparatory are early risers! Every Thursday, after dropping off their kids in the morning, the volunteers stop by the computer room to help us bag the produce and serve the families at Williams Prep. We get started as early as 7:00 am and just 45 minutes later we are distributing the produce, recipe cards, and fun food samples to all participants. It is an incredible sight to see! Two of these volunteers are Ana Razo and Raquel Ariaz. They have been helping with Brighter Bites distributions at the school since the beginning of last semester. Each of them has a different perspective about the program’s impact. Ana told us that she has four children who love fruits and vegetables – unlike other parents, she doesn’t have to convince her children to eat them.  She said, “Typically I prepare the produce I receive from Brighter Bites by sautéing the veggies, like bell peppers and onions, and adding some type of meat.”  She also mentioned that she likes to cook soups and fresh salads with the produce too. Ana had gestational diabetes, so for her it is incredibly important to eat a balanced diet and teach her kids how to include fruits and vegetables in their meals and snacks every day. Brighter Bites has reduced Ana’s grocery bill from $160 to $110 per week and has made it possible for her and her family to eat more produce. Raquel Ariaz had a different story to tell. The members of her family did not generally like the flavor of most fruits and vegetables before they began participating in Brighter Bites. Cooking different kinds of fresh produce used to intimidate her. She chuckled as she said, “When I signed up to volunteer for Brighter Bites, I started cooking the fresh produce at home. My kids were mad at first because they were not used to eating that way, but now they love it!” Raquel credits the Brighter Bites recipe cards with helping her make positive changes in the kitchen. “My kids went from [saying] ‘I don’t want any’ to ‘may I have more please.’ I have never eaten this healthy in my life and I am so grateful for this program!” Raquel has seen changes in her and her family’s health, too. She has lost 10 pounds and her children are noticeably more energetic. Williams Prep volunteers truly make our mornings BRIGHTER and inspire us to continue bringing the Brighter Bites formula to all corners of Dallas!

John W. Carpenter Elementary Volunteers Rock!

Posted on March 17, 2015 by -

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Dedication. That’s the first word that comes to mind when I think of the volunteers at John W. Carpenter Elementary. The bagging and distribution happens at Carpenter rain or shine, hot or cold. The volunteers at this school always arrive with a smile on their face, ready to have fun and work hard. One family extremely dedicated to the program is the Puente family. Cruz and Martha Puente have come to every Brighter Bites distribution at Carpenter and are vital to our success at this school. They arrive early, stay late, and always help clean up. The Puentes love to cook with the produce they receive from Brighter Bites. Martha makes fajitas by sautéing the Brighter Bites onions and bell peppers. Sounds tasty! Their four kids are also great helpers and love trying the fun food samples every week. Their favorite Brighter Bites fruits and vegetables? Bananas, celery, and lettuce. Thanks to our great volunteers, like Martha and Cruz, at John W. Carpenter Elementary who help make Brighter Bites so successful!

Thompson Families are One in a Melon

Posted on March 14, 2015 by -

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Brighter Bites would not be able to run successfully without our dedicated volunteers at Thompson Elementary. Last week, I sat with two of our volunteers, Dr. Marie Horton and Norma Perez, to discuss how Brighter Bites has benefited their families and community. Dr. Marie Horton is a proud mother of a PK teacher at Thompson. She spends as much time as she can at the school, volunteering her time to help students and busy teachers. Her Thursdays, however, are dedicated to helping Brighter Bites. When asked how fresh produce has benefited her life and the Thompson community, she said, “The fruits and vegetables encourage healthy eating in our community. Brighter Bites is beneficial for families because it introduces us to produce that we wouldn’t normally buy at the store.” When asked what her favorite part of Brighter Bites was, she said, “That’s easy: the literature. The nutrition handbooks are easy to read and are perfect tools in the kitchen.”  Holy Guacamole! That is exactly what we love to hear. The nutrition handbook has provided Dr. Horton with healthy tips and money-saving skills, such as making smoothies and freezing vegetables for soups. Norma Perez has two children at Thompson Elementary.  Last week, I spoke with Norma and her daughter, Payton, about how Brighter Bites has changed their eating habits. Norma said, “Produce is expensive, so Brighter Bites is helping me save money that can go to other expenses. We are trying new fruits and vegetables. My family is able to eat our favorite foods together, without me going to a grocery store.” Norma’s daughter, Payton agrees. Her two favorite fruits are grapes and pineapples; so, she was more than excited to receive BOTH fruits last week. Both Dr. Horton and Norma Perez agree that fresh fruits and vegetables are luxuries for many families at Thompson Elementary. Because of Brighter Bites, parents give their kids healthy treats after school and the kids love every minute of it. Everyone at Thompson Elementary appreciates the produce, education, and snacks from Brighter Bites, and we too appreciate our volunteers who make each week possible.

The Brighter Bites Legacy

Posted on March 6, 2015 by -

Legacy Volunteers As a program coordinator for Brighter Bites in Houston, my favorite part of the job is getting to spend time in the community. I love meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. Brighter Bites gives me the opportunity to do that on a daily basis. When KIPP Legacy Elementary School in Houston joined Brighter Bites in Fall 2013, we were impressed with the level of commitment, organization and excitement the school leadership and volunteers displayed from the beginning. Almost two years later, their enthusiasm remains strong. Every week, between 18-22 KIPP Legacy parents volunteer to help make  Brighter Bites happen for their kids. The bagging process is usually filled with jokes, laughter and food (a Brighter Bites formula for success). Almost every week, a parent volunteer will share a recipe and sample with the group. This week a mother shared Guayaba Tea (tea made from guavas). It was the perfect beverage for an unsually cold Houston morning. Last week another parent shared a delicious chocoflan (known in the US as “impossible cake”). It has been a joy for me to work with everyone at KIPP Legacy who has made the Brighter Bites program a huge success. The Brighter Bites team is grateful for everything you do. Keep up the great work!