HOLLAND — U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Holland Township) on a visit to Kids’ Food Basket on June 18.
Kennedy and Huizenga toured the farm at 226 104th Ave. — learning about the nonprofit’s educational and nutrition programming and discussing ways to improve access to healthier food options for children and families across West Michigan.
“I’m touring the country looking at model programs like this … that are actually filling that need,” Kennedy said during a press conference following the tour.
Kids’ Food Basket, founded in 2002, provides meals in counties Kent, Ottawa and Allegan. The organization’s 10-acre development in Holland includes farmland, a greenhouse and a learning barn.
“This program is producing 11,500 meals a day of fresh produce that goes directly to these kids, it goes to schools, it goes to food pantries and it’s changing lives,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy noted federal programs exist to aid organizations like Kids’ Food Basket.
“The administration has completely changed the approach to public health in this country and it’s a message that we want to get out to everybody,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy said government can’t do everything, which is why officials rely on public and private partners such as Kids’ Food Basket.
“I think it’s about making sure that we’re being smarter with all of those tax dollars,” Huizenga added.
Huizenga is currently running for re-election in Michigan’s Fourth Congressional District, which includes Allegan County and Van Buren County — as well as portions of Berrien, Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Ottawa. The district represents nearly 775,000 constituents.
— Cassidey Kavathas is the politics and court reporter at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at ckavathas@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on X @cassideykava.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: RFK Jr. calls Kids’ Food Basket ‘model program’ during visit to Holland
Reporting by Cassidey Kavathas, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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By Cassidey Kavathas, Holland Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
