Jennifer Garner Instagram – Today I am thinking about the town of Alpaugh in California’s Central Valley, an area that grows 50% of the fruits and vegetables in America and 75% of the nuts. The irony of this town full of growers: Alpaugh is a food desert, meaning their grocery store is devoid of anything fresh—no apples, bananas, carrots, broccoli. A gallon of milk goes for about $7 in the liquor store, the idea that the people putting beautiful fresh food on our tables have no access to any themselves is 😭🤯. @cynthiamcfadden and I visited Alpaugh last week and, as always when I visit small towns in rural America, my heart was filled by the amazing kids, their loving and resilient parents, the strength of community, and the determination and love of the school leadership and teachers. The struggles are evident, but the hope is, too—especially when @savethechildren is part of the system. The cherry on top of our time in Alpaugh was learning that, as part of @onceuponafarm‘s commitment to donate #AMILLIONMEALS through our partnership with Save the Children, OFARM’s farm fresh goodness has been distributed to babies and kids up and down the Valley by @cencalfoodbank, offering them the same vivid flavor, texture and nutrient dense food you may have in your fridge today. It takes a web to nourish children in underserved communities: WIC and SNAP benefits are vital, food banks, backpack programs, farm to community programs, organizations like Save the Children and @nokidhungry—every bit helps. I am grateful to have seen first hand how Once Upon a Farm is a small part of the solution, grateful to be Co-Founder of a mission driven company full of passionate people, and to be led by the impeccable @jforaker11 and our OG @cassandracurtis. I am grateful for every member of our team and to all of our customers that dream right alongside us. And because I am feeling all the feels today, I am grateful to my mentor at Save the Children of fifteen years, @markkshriver, who sees the possibility in every tough situation, who is the ultimate champion for kids in America, and who, when the world is out of whack, helps me focus on helping however I can, wherever I can and whenever I can. Alpaugh, California