NBCC LAUNCHES FOOD HUB

North Bay Children’s Center has launched the Family Food Share Hub pilot program, a school-based food distribution initiative designed to provide families with young children reliable access to nutritious food at their child’s school. Through weekly on-site distributions, participating families receive fresh produce, dairy and staple foods year-round at NBCC school locations. “Families are telling us they are working harder than ever just to put healthy food on the table,” said Susan Gilmore, president and CEO of North Bay Children’s Center. “The Family Food Share Hub is a direct response to what our community needs right now — safe, consistent access to nutritious food in a familiar, trusted setting. When children have enough healthy food, they are better able to learn, grow and thrive.” The pilot program serves four of its sites in Sonoma County in addition to the Al and Lisa Brayton campus in Novato, reaching approximately 553 individuals each week. Teachers pick up food weekly from the central hub in Rohnert Park and return it to their campuses, where families receive groceries during regular child pick-up times —eliminating transportation barriers and potentially reducing stigma. In addition to food distribution, the program integrates Garden of Eatin’ nutrition and environmental education and family engagement, providing weekly recipes, cooking tips and food tastings at school sites. The Family Food Share Hub was developed in partnership with local farms, grocery suppliers and community organizations and is designed to be scalable and sustainable through centralized coordination and school-based delivery. For more information, visit nbcc.net.