Farm Fresh Friday Bolsters Lean Budgets

On Fridays, after their classes have ended, more than 500 youngsters head home with a weekend bag of produce from the San Antonio Food Bank to share with their family. Recently, after Rosa Ramirez picked up her daughter, Lanette, she walked outside to boxes filled with bags of produce that included bananas, squash, cabbage, cole slaw, peppers and potatoes. The Ramirezes received fresh fruit and vegetables through the Farm Fresh Friday program, sponsored by the food bank. The initiative is one of several programs the nonprofit offers to children from low-income families in need of food assistance. Genevieve Noriega, director of partner services, said the program is funded through the Eva Longoria Foundation and a grant from Feeding America.