Written by: Melissa Webb
Photography by: Barrie Taylor
July 18, 2022 – Columbia, TN – Bright Apple recently partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee to provide healthy snacks for Maury County students. The snacks were distributed to students and families participating in the BGCSCTN summer program.
Bright Apple was chosen as a recipient of a Summer Feeding Grant from Save the Children. Grant funds were used to provide the snacks through Boys & Girls Clubs and Maury County School students that Bright Apple served throughout the summer.
“We are very thankful for the funds we received through Save the Children’s Summer Feeding Grant,” said Charity Kimes, founder of Bright Apple. “The grant made it possible to provide healthy snacks for students throughout the summer. Boys & Girls Clubs have been a great partner in helping us serve more children.”
Carrika Washington, Wayne Street/Howell Unit Director for BGCSCTN said the snacks provided through Bright Apple will mean a lot to the families they serve.
“These snacks will help to fill the gap in helping families provide healthy food for their children,” said Washington. “The fresh fruit is especially appreciated as fresh fruit is not regularly available.”
The healthy snacks will also support the BGCSCTN mission to prioritize health education for their students.
“Helping kids learn about healthy lifestyles and healthy eating habits is a priority for us,” said Lauren La Porte, Chief Development Officer/Co-Interim CEO for BGCSCTN. “It has been a tough couple of years for everyone. We have spent some time this summer to give kids a break and give them opportunities to focus on their physical and mental health. The healthy snacks will be a great addition to this!”
Washington added that many families need support right now. BGCSCTN currently has a waiting list with hopes of being able to serve more families.
“There really is a need,” she said. “One family we serve is a single mom taking care of three children as well as her sister’s two children. Supplemental food such as these snacks will be a great help to her. Families need support more than ever.”
Bright Apple, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization in the State of Tennessee. Bright Apple was founded in 2019 on the belief that no child should go without food. The organization’s mission is to ensure that every elementary school student in Maury County receives a snack during the school day to help them concentrate longer and improve their academic success. Last year, Bright Apple provided more than 150,000 snacks to children in Maury County.
For more information about Bright Apple, visit BrightApple.org. For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee, visit bgcsctn.org. For more information about Save the Children, visit SavetheChildren.org.