The Children's Aid Society's Food Box program, which offers low-cost, fresh produce and nutrition education to Staten Island's North Shore residents, faces budget cuts. This program addresses the food desert issue by providing fresh, locally-sourced produce each week for $14, and half-price for SNAP recipients. The community engages with the program, sharing recipes, trying new foods, and appreciating the value they receive. Weekly distributions include a variety of fresh produce and recipe suggestions, helping residents access healthy meal options in an area with limited grocery stores.
"The North Shore of Staten Island is a food desert. There are not a lot of places that have fresh, local vegetables and produce and people were looking for something healthier," said Ilene Pappert, director of the Goodhue Community Center in New Brighton where the distributions take place. "It has become such a community. People are sharing recipes, people are excited about trying new things. And they feel like they were getting their money's worth."
During Tuesday's distribution event, bags were packed with blueberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, Swiss chard, yellow spring onions and parsley, accompanied by a recipe for tabbouleh salad.
Samantha Lee, who has been working as a Food Box program assistant for the past year, helps create the weekly recipes and prepare samples for those picking up food, something she takes great pride in as a dietetic student working to help people live healthier lives.
Collection
[
|
...
]