Children in Johnson City, Tennessee, are learning about bees in a fun way thanks to a generous donation. The Sioux Honey Association Co-op teamed up with Food City to donate 2½ tons of SUE BEE® honey to three organizations focused on supporting kids. This sweet gift will help provide snacks and meals for after-school programs at Coalition For Kids, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, and Mountain Mission School.
During the event at the Coalition For Kids, around 50 children participated in an interactive lesson about bees and their role in pollination. They discovered how different types of bees, like worker bees and queen bees, contribute to our food supply. To illustrate pollination, kids played a game where they pretended to be bees, using cotton balls while other students represented flowers. This hands-on activity helped them understand how bees transfer pollen between flowers and why this is crucial for growing many of the foods we enjoy, like almonds and avocados.
Randy Hensley, Executive Director at Coalition For Kids, expressed the excitement of the children and emphasized how the honey donation will benefit their after-school program. Chris Mitchell, President at Mountain Mission School and a beekeeper himself, shared insights on the importance of honeybee pollination for food production, highlighting its vital role in our ecosystem.
In recent years, the role of honeybees has gained more attention due to serious declines in honeybee populations. According to a 2023 report from the University of California, the United States has lost about 30% of its honeybee colonies annually since 2006, sparking concern about future food security. Experts stress the need for community involvement in bee conservation, linking initiatives like the Sioux Honey Co-op’s donations to greater awareness of environmental sustainability.
Sioux Honey Association’s commitment doesn’t stop here. They have more donations planned following the honey harvest season later this year. David Coy, a third-generation beekeeper, emphasizes their passion for both producing honey and giving back to the community.
Such partnerships remind us that helping others can take many forms. Through education and generosity, organizations like Sioux Honey and Food City are sweetening the lives of children while raising awareness about the vital role of bees in our environment.
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Source linkCoalition For Kids, Food City, Mountain Mission School, Johnson City, honeybee pollination
