Support BrightSide Produce on Give to the Max 2020

Food insecurity in urban areas is at historically high levels. The COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest during 2020 has exacerbated existing disparities in access to  healthy foods. 

By contributing to BrightSide Produce, you are helping provide Twin Cities residents with more reliable access to affordable fresh fruits and vegetables. 

BrightSide Produce is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that makes fresh produce more available throughout the Twin Cities, particularly in underserved communities. We bring together folks from different communities (e.g., college students, recent graduates, community youth) and harness their energy for creating a more equitable society by changing our local food system. BrightSide has two main operations, corner store deliveries and home deliveries of fresh produce:

1.  Fresh produce deliveries to corner stores in underserved Minneapolis neighborhoods

Our core operation involves a team of neighborhood youth and young adults who make regular deliveries of fresh produce to corner stores in under-served areas. For many residents, the only grocery store option in walking distance is small corner stores, which have historically not offered much fresh foods. BrightSide's work increases  access to affordable fresh fruits and vegetables to thousands of community members while supporting small local businesses, many of which are BIPOC-owned. 

2. Home deliveries of fresh produce, regardless of ability to pay

In response to the growing food insecurity in our community, BrightSide produce has created several new home delivery programs in 2020. These deliveries help more folks safely access fresh produce, regardless of their income level. We run a weekly "Pay What You Can" program, where recipients are referred to us through churches, clinics, and community organizations. PWYC recipients pay whatever they can afford for a large bag of fresh produce delivered to their doorstep, and our donors fill in the gaps. We also offer a home delivery subscription in Minneapolis and St. Paul where folks pay a "food justice surcharge" that helps support our food equity work. 

All Give to the Max Day 2020 funds will be used to support BrightSide's food justice work in the Twin Cities, help us expand our programming, and allow us to pay our youth employees a fair wage. $10,000 would help BrightSide tremendously by covering our "behind the scene" expenses —  insurance, administrative costs, cold food storage, packing space rental, vehicle maintenance, website fees, licenses, and permits.

THANK YOU. Contributions like yours  allow BrightSide to create more equitable access to fresh, healthy food. You can learn more about us at our website. If you live in the Twin Cities, please consider subscribing for our Home Deliveries program as a way to support our mission all year round and receive high-quality fresh produce at your doorstep. If you live outside the Cities, consider supporting our Pay What You Can deliveries by subscribing for a small weekly donation.