Fresh Minds, healthy living education, is a Junior League of Jacksonville program that encompasses volunteer support and events that promote the availability of healthy food, nutrition education and health and wellness to local low-income schools and communities. This evolving program refines the focus of our efforts for a substantial impact in Jacksonville, through partnerships with community partners to create long-term sustainability.

Tommy The Tomato Program

An elementary-level healthy food educational experience based on The Adventures of Tommy the Tomato, written by Florida author, Jay Holt was launched during the 2015-2016 league year. During 2016-2017, we will continue to build on the foundation, working with students at North Shore, George Washington Carver and the Sanctuary on 8th Street. We will continue to reinforce the initiative by extending education and correlating age-appropriate resources.

The sustainable classroom kits may include:

• The book & related curriculum
• A plant to nurture and grow together
• Healthy snacks & recipes for the classroom
• Supplemental activities tied to standards given to teachers for ongoing education

Our education initiative will also continue to include pop-up farmers’ market/cooking demonstrations in partnership with Farm to Family and Kids in the Kitchen (KITK) amongst other new creative ideas, building on the foundation.

In addition, our members will have the ability to volunteer at various different opportunities each month, including, but not limited to:

Our members have the ability to volunteer at 4 different opportunities each month:

• White Harvest Farms
• United Way / Full Service School Health & Wellness
• Family-oriented Community Events
• Facilitating & leading various other volunteer opportunities that tie to Healthy Eating & Food Access
• Attending and becoming a presence at food policy council meetings, hunger relief/food desert conference, etc.