Brighter Bites, DoorDash deliver fresh produce to South Side ISD families

A San Antonio nonprofit is partnering with a national delivery platform to bring fresh fruit and vegetables directly to families in the South Side Independent School District.

Brighter Bites, in partnership with DoorDash, delivers fresh produce to families in seven San Antonio elementary schools every other week at no cost to participating families.

Elizabeth Velarde, Brighter Bites senior program manager, said the program offers more than just free food.

“Groceries being as expensive as they are, it does provide a little bit of relief to their grocery budget,” Velarde said.

The program also focuses on changing the way kids and families think about food. Brighter Bites staff visit classrooms to provide nutrition education, helping students learn how to make healthier choices.

“Really, our goal is to affect healthy behavior changes,” Velarde said. “We’re teaching kids how to eat better, make better choices when it comes to what they eat, what they snack on.”

The nonprofit also encourages parents to continue food education at home. The partnership with DoorDash helps make that possible by removing the burden of transportation and accessibility.

A personal mission for one driver

DoorDash driver Sheneka Willis has delivered 70 Brighter Bites orders and says the experience has been deeply meaningful.

“I used to be a low-income single parent as a teen mom. And so I’ve lived in low-income housing. I’ve been on food stamps. It means a lot, you know, every little bit helps,” Willis said.

According to a Feeding America study, one in five people in the Southwest Texas region are food insecure. As SNAP cuts make it harder for some families to put food on the table, Brighter Bites is working to eliminate barriers to healthy eating.

Velarde says the demand for the program is growing.

“Knowing that we have schools kind of on a waiting list waiting to get this program into their schools, into their communities, has really been rewarding,” Velarde said.

Any school can apply for free to work with Brighter Bites.

Additional food resources in San Antonio

• San Antonio Food Bank
• Community First Health Plans
• Catholic Charities
• The Salvation Army
• Meals on Wheels