Gini, In celebration of this year's Hispanic Heritage Month theme, "Todos Somos, Somos Uno: We Are All, We Are One.", I'm excited to bring you the story of one community that exemplifies unity and resiliency. Planada is a small, rural town in California's Central Valley. Chances are, if you have eaten a pistachio or almond recently, it was grown nearby. In fact, 25% of our nation's produce comes from this area, yet Merced County, where Planada is located, has one of the nation's highest poverty rates. Surrounded by produce, it's an injustice that many families who live and work in Planada don't have access to affordable food. I recently had the opportunity to visit Planada to launch the Good Stuff Kiosk at Cesar E. Chavez Middle School. The kiosk has a small, moveable refrigerator that sits along shelf-stable staple foods with a video screen that shares recipes and cooking tips. It provides accessible and affordable meals to families while they're coming to pick up their kids from afterschool programs hosted by the Boys & Girls Clubs. |
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"I've always had a high motivation to serve the underserved," says José González, Superintendent of Planada Elementary School District and a lifelong resident of Merced County. The school district serves about 900 children, 98% of whom are Latino, a reflection of the makeup of the larger community. Because of this, José says he has the opportunity to "unapologetically celebrate the cultures and traditions" of the Latino community by ensuring that the food students receive is not only nutritious but also culturally relevant. Chef Alejandro Okida, the District's Food Service Director, and his team provide the students with up to 5 meals a day — breakfast, lunch, supper, and two snacks — each day with a different menu, cooked from scratch. Recent favorites included pozole, a traditional Mexican stew, and carnitas made with local pork. |
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Planada is a shining example of the joy food can bring a community. This one kiosk is just the beginning of a larger initiative to help catalyze change toward good food and healthier communities. By 2028, the Good Stuff Kiosk program plans to grow to include more than 1,000 community hubs across the country, potentially reaching more than 3 million families daily. Everyone deserves access to affordable, healthy food. Thank you for supporting our efforts to expand programs like Good Stuff Kiosks, making food equity a reality. With gratitude, 
Jason Wilson
Head of Communications
Partnership for a Healthier America P.S. If you'd like to read the full story, check out my blog post here. |
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