Produce Pop-Up Recap – Grace Thille Elementary School, Santa Paula

Programs

Jan 26

Renaissance High School Students distributing pre packaged boxes from Food Share

We had an incredible time at our recent Produce Pop-Up at Grace Thille Elementary School in Santa Paula! The afternoon was full of positive energy, gratitude, and strong community spirit as families gathered to receive fresh produce.

Thanks to the generous donation of 250 pre-packaged food boxes from Food Share and four boxes of gleaned tangerines from Food Forward, families were able to take home a wide variety of fresh produce. Seeing children proudly help carry their boxes home alongside their parents truly captured the impact of this event.

This Produce Pop-Up would not have been possible without the incredible support of our partners and volunteers. The Grace Thille Elementary staff played a key role in ensuring the campus was ready and welcoming for families, making the distribution run smoothly from start to finish. Their dedication to student and family wellbeing was evident throughout the day.

A special shoutout goes to the Renaissance High School student volunteers, who enthusiastically distributed Food Share boxes with positivity and care. Their willingness to serve their community and support younger students brought great energy to the event and set a wonderful example of youth leadership. We especially loved learning that some of these students once attended Grace Thille Elementary School themselves; making it incredibly special to see the full circle of former students returning to give back to the school and community that helped shape them.

Through this collaborative effort, the Produce Pop-Up became more than a food distribution; it is a celebration of connection, nutrition, and community partnership. We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed their time, resources, and heart to make this event such a success.

We look forward to continuing to host Produce Pop-Ups throughout the year and expanding access to local produce. Thank you, Santa Paula, for showing up and supporting one another!