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Distribution of fresh produce at PS 66, the Bronx

CookShop bears fruit
New York Teacher
A student reveals the hidden treasures inside the blue plastic bags.
Maria Bastone
A student reveals the hidden treasures inside the blue plastic bags.
Turci (center) prepares to distribute the bagged fruits and vegetables with (fro
Maria Bastone
Turci (center) prepares to distribute the bagged fruits and vegetables with (from left) music teacher Liban Gomez, physical education teacher Chris Blades, parent liaison Rosa Cedeno and PTA President Katherine Rosado.

“It was like Christmas in June,” PS 66 Chapter Leader Paul Turci said about a Food Bank for New York City giveaway. Turci was describing the distribution of 150 cases of fruits and vegetables to all 725 of the students from the school in the East Morrisania section of the Bronx. The produce was donated by the Food Bank to the school as part of its six-year participation in CookShop, a federally funded nutrition education program. CookShop, which is supported by the UFT, works to raise awareness among low-income children and their families about the importance of forming healthy eating habits and to help them gain the skills to make appropriate choices for long-term health. Turci said the staff and parents met the “logistical challenge” of uncrating and bagging the produce that arrived on June 14 so it would be ready for the children the next day while it was still fresh and nutritious. CookShop reached students in more than 1,800 public elementary school classrooms and after-school programs this year. Turci, who is the coordinator of the program at PS 66, said, “This was a great opportunity to share with the community and everyone was happy.”