Houston Style Magazine was on the scene today at Bush Elementary School in Alief ISD as District J Council Member Edward Pollard presented a $10,000 check to Brighter Bites, supporting the nonprofit’s ongoing effort to provide fresh produce and nutrition education to students and their families.

Founded in 2012 by Lisa Helfman and Dr. Shreela Sharma, Brighter Bites works to improve health outcomes among children and families in under-resourced communities by combining access to fresh fruits and vegetables with nutrition education.

“It is my honor to present this $10,000 on behalf of my office to support Brighter Bites and the students and families of Bush Elementary,” Pollard said. “When children have access to nutritious food, they are better positioned to focus, learn and succeed in the classroom. This partnership is about more than providing fresh produce. It is about investing in healthier children, supporting families and helping build a stronger community.”

Council Member Pollard, Brighter Bites VP of Programs Mike Pomeroy, Bush Elementary Principal Kristen Jackson-Jordan 

The partnership is particularly meaningful for families who may have limited access to fresh food. Every two weeks, participating Bush Elementary students receive bags filled with fresh fruits and vegetables to take home to their families.

Brighter Bites has committed to continuing the program at Bush Elementary for three years. Volunteers gathered at the school to celebrate the milestone and the continued partnership between the organization, the school and the District J community.

The produce distributed through the program comes primarily from the Houston Food Bank. Volunteers help assemble the bags, which can weigh approximately 20 pounds, giving families a substantial supply of fresh produce to incorporate into their meals.

The food distribution is paired with nutrition education. Families receive recipes and ideas for preparing the fruits and vegetables, encouraging them to try new foods and develop healthier eating habits at home.

Bush Elementary Principal Kristen Jackson-Jordan and the school staff were recognized by Pollard for welcoming the Brighter Bites partnership and supporting efforts to improve the nutritional well-being of students.

Jackson-Jordan said the program provides students and their families with an opportunity to learn about different fruits and vegetables while giving families the tools and ideas to prepare healthier meals.

Mike Pomeroy, VP of programs at Brighter Bites, thanked Pollard for the contribution and noted that the program’s success in District J would not have been possible without the $10,000 donation.

Since its founding, Brighter Bites has distributed more than 65 million pounds of fresh produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than one million individuals, including teachers, across multiple cities.

At Bush Elementary, the partnership brings that mission directly into the school community, connecting students and families with fresh food while providing practical resources to make healthier choices part of everyday life.