UNT Health Science Center, FitWorth provide fresh produce, dairy to local families

The University of North Texas Health Science Center, in collaboration with Fort Worth’s FitWorth program, provided fresh produce and dairy to families at Morningside Middle School on Friday.

FitWorth, an active campaign that promotes wellness in Fort Worth, provided families with 1,500 boxes of fresh produce that came from their collaboration with Oklahoma’s GoFresh produce.

Food was distributed drive-thru style, with UNT student volunteers handing out boxes in contactless pickup. One box feeds up to four people, but families are able to ask for additional boxes if there are more family members per household.

USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Boxes supplied the food boxes that will allow FitWorth to distribute weekly to about 1,500 families for the next nine weeks, said Noah Drew, director of Fort Worth’s Healthy City Initiative.

As for FitWorth’s collaboration with UNT Health Science Center, Jessica Rangel, vice provost of Academic Innovation, said the center is playing an important role in looking for innovative ways to serve the community and students.

Along with fresh produce such as milk, eggs, carrots and potatoes, FitWorth is also providing flyers and QR codes with sample recipes that families can try and even learn more about the importance of a balanced meal.

Morningside community residents lined up for various blocks to collect food boxes.

Rosio Olvera, Morningside resident, said receiving these food boxes are important for her and her family.

“I lost my job at a veterinary clinic because of the pandemic, so it’s been difficult providing food for my family when there’s no money,” Olvera said.

Marine Creek resident Lourdes Gallegos explained how difficult it has been in finding a job during the pandemic.

“These food boxes have been helping my family get by since there is only one person in our house who can work now, we take what we can,” Gallegos said.

FitWorth has worked closely with the Forth Worth school district in selecting communities like Morningside that have food-insecurities. FitWorth will announce the next location for its food box drive early next week, Drew said.

FitWorth’s food box distribution will take place each Friday for the next nine weeks from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 6:17 PM.