Salinas, CA – A pilot program that provides free fresh produce to local schools has been started by a partnership of local nonprofits and businesses. The organizations that have partnered together for this program include Ag Against Hunger, HELP, the Food Bank for Monterey County, the Grower-Shipper Association Foundation and Fresh from D’Vine. The More Produce for Schools program is bringing fresh and nutritious produce into local schools in an effort to provide students with a more balanced lunch-time meal.
Ag Against Hunger’s role is to provide all school districts in Monterey County with free fresh surplus leafy greens and strawberries. Currently, there are five school districts enrolled in the program: Salinas Union High School, Alisal Union, Greenfield, King City, and North Monterey County. The afterschool program, Head Start, is also enrolled. This program is helping 32,000 students have more access to healthy, fresh food.
Ag Against Hunger’s portion of this program will be funded by a matching grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation. “Wells Fargo invests its resources in the future of our communities where our team members and customers live and work,” said Joe Mathai, Wells Fargo Valley Coastal President. “Through our $25,000 challenge grant we hope that the community joins us to help Ag Against Hunger continue the great work they do in our community and help feed those in need.”
To receive this Wells Fargo matching grant, Ag Against Hunger has been tasked with raising $25,000 for the More Produce for Schools program. In order to raise these funds they are seeking the public’s help and support. All of the money raised for this matching grant will go directly toward putting fresh produce into local schools.
To make a donation, you can mail a check to Ag Against Hunger at 512 Pajaro St., Salinas CA 93901 (please include “More Produce for Schools” in the memo line) or visit their website, at www.agagainsthunger.org where you can donate via PayPal.
About Ag Against Hunger
Ag Against Hunger is a nonprofit agency that prevents agricultural waste by gathering fresh local produce and donating that produce to food banks in the tri-county area (Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito), throughout the State of California, and across the West Coast. Since 1990, area growers and shippers have donated more than 210 million pounds of fresh, surplus fruit and vegetables to help feed people in need. To learn more about Ag Against Hunger, visit www.agagainsthunger.org, ‘like’ us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @AgAgainstHunger.
Source: Ag Against Hunger
