Good food, good health
Burton’s ‘Healthy on the Go’ continues to grow
Hundreds of people lined up Friday morning at the Burton School District Professional Academy on West Henderson for the Healthy on the Go neighborhood market that continues to support and feed the community.
The neighborhood market has been feeding many in the city of Porterville by providing free food every fourth Friday of the month.
“We started off with a small truck bringing couple thousand pounds of food and now we moved over to a diesel, which carries in over 30,000 pounds every month,” said Irene Ortega, communication and community engagement officer at BSD. “The event has grown so much, to the point we don’t really have to advertise anymore.”
Healthy on the Go has also been incorporating new features, like the addition of the Family Health Care Network booth providing free blood pressure to those waiting in line.
Paola Fernande mentioned before getting in line to get her blood pressure taken she also has been going to the free market since the first time BSD held the event.
“It is great they are doing this because it is helping us and many other people who need it,” said Fernandez as she stood in line. “It is beneficial not only because it is absolutely free, but the type of food they give is healthy, which teaches us and pushes us to cook healthier for our kids.”
Maria Lopez also waiting in line with three of her five children said she learned of the food giveaway through Facebook on the BSD page.
“This is great help for all of the people,” Lopez said, adding she is always working and was never able to make it to the giveaways. “I get disappointed because the food they give away is necessary in my house and for all of my five kids.”
Ortega said the project started with about 100 people coming out to receive free food, and has definitely grown over the time. They program now helps about 700 people in the community each month.
“It’s a lot to do, but thanks to the volunteers from the community and those who donate, BSD is able to this for the people,” said Ortega as she handed out loaves of bread. “Every person is allowed to take one of each item that is being offered. The food that is left over is donated to Saint Anne’s Pantry, Helping Hands and any of the local pantries.”
Every month the items given vary. Friday morning they had bell peppers, pineapples, onions, eggplants, bananas, honeydew, fresh corn, bread and other foods for people to pick from at the tables.
Ortega said with the growth of the program, BSD is working with the Central California Food Bank, and hopefully this year they will be able to provide ‘holiday boxes,’ which would include traditional holiday food for people to receive for free.
“We’ve had such a good turn out and we hope to keep on helping the Burton Community,” said Ortega, adding that they just finished getting trained to hold a pantry. “We are hoping to have a pantry at the professional academy building for any of the Burton families that need it.”
Ortega also mentioned
they have plans on starting a backpack program, where BSD staff would put out backpacks for students with food in them.
“It would be weekend food like macaroni and cheese and noodles for those families whose kids might be by themselves during the weekend while their parents work,” said Ortega.
Ortega said the kids
will be able to pick up the backpacks loaded with food, take them home, then bring them back to school to repeat the process.
“We are building a foundation to bring to our kids and families together,” said Ortega. “We want to also make sure that our kids have food at home and we hope to be helping that with the Neighborhood Market.”