One apple, two milks, one granola bar—an assortment of foods and colors fill the paper bags. Sliding down the table, the bags are carried and passed down to each of the volunteers, who smile and chatter with one another as they prepare weekend lunches for at least 400 students across Brookline.
Initially developed in 2018 by Kim Kushner, Brookline Thrives is a volunteer-run program within the Brookline Food Pantry that serves the Brookline Early Education Program (BEEP) and all K-8 Brookline Public schools to reduce food insecurity. Each week, the organization packs food bags and distributes them throughout schools for students and local families to pick up and enjoy over the weekend. The bags are free for families to pick up after registration, and the organization accommodates most major food allergies and dietary restrictions.
Brookline Thrives manager Sharon Brockmann organizes the volunteer sign-up, management of the food bag productions and distribution of these free food bags. Brockmann said she hopes to reduce food insecurity for families in Brookline and wants to help in any way she can.
“The mission of Brookline Thrives is to ensure that no child comes back to school on a Monday morning hungry,” Brockmann said. “[The food bags are] a nice little bag that we give to anybody who registers for Brookline Thrives. There is no red tape. It’s really quite simple; there’s one Google form that you have to fill out, and we try and make it as easy as possible for anyone who wants to register.”
