This summer, The Produce Box provided farm-fresh fruits and veggies to 355 campers who participated in six Camp High Hopes in Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Raleigh, Durham and Wake Forest.
“YMCA Camp High Hopes is such an important program for kids and their families. The kids are receiving healthy breakfasts and lunches at the camp, and with the financial support of our members, we are sending local fruits and vegetables home with them each week. It’s a great opportunity to impact the health of the whole family. With COVID-19 affecting kids going to summer school and disrupting their everyday lives, many are not getting the food they relied on,” said Courtney Tellefsen, founder of The Produce Box, in a written statement.
Produce Box staff deliver fresh fruit and vegetables to a YMCA camp.
“Best of all, it helps our local N.C. farmers get more of their harvests into the kitchens of families who need them.”
Camp High Hopes is a seven-week summer day camp that is fully subsidized by the YMCA’s Annual Campaign. Many campers at Camp High Hopes live in low-income areas with extremely low access to fresh, healthy and affordable food. Each child receives breakfast and lunch five days a week and has the opportunity to participate in educational and character-building activities.
“We know that many children in our community go hungry during the summer. COVID-19 has dramatically impacted food insecurity throughout our community,” said Susan Pettengill, YMCA of the Triangle Vice President of Healthy Living. “Thanks to the Produce Box for providing a box of fresh produce to Camp High Hopes campers. It is helping provide nutrition not just for our campers, but their entire family.”
Founded in 2007, The Produce Box delivers farm-grown fresh fruit and vegetables as well as local meats and N.C.-produced specialty items to families, companies and community organizations across the state. The Produce Box also partners with local schools and organizations like Backpack Buddies, Farmer Food Share, and Inter-Faith Food Shuttle to give back to the communities it serves.
YMCA Campers show off the contents of their Produce Boxes.
