CENTRE COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — Teaching children about nutrition and healthy eating can be a challenge.
In Centre County, another edition of a popular program, which features kids and mostly healthy food, was held Thursday.
Imagine putting kids in charge of a farmers market and adding some local sports stars, in this case, members of Penn State’s Lady Lions basketball team
“They basically come out here and get handed a little cash. They get to go through the line and pick out any food they want for their families to take home.”
The money used is referred to as ‘Y-bucks,’ from the Centre County YMCA.
Thursday featured another edition of a kids’ farmer’s market, put on by the Centre County YMCA’s anti-hunger program, with an educational approach to eating right.
“Basically, when we do these events, the only thing we give out is vegetables that are really in need for growth. We also give out fruits that we know are good for them.”
And, of course, with children involved, having fun is also stressed.
“it’s a lot of fun, just hanging out with the kids, getting to know them. We have snow cones for them, so just hanging out with them, it’s great, just to interact with them.”
There are also not too many cares about the ongoing challenges that food banks are seeing nationwide, with dwindling supplies and increasing demand.
“To be very honest, I’m not going to worry about it. We’ve made a lot of great contacts since COVID. we have companies who call us now and ask if we need excess food.”
The kids’ farmer’s market, part of the anti-hunger program’s outreach effort, continues this weekend in Bellefonte with another food distribution event.
