SUNRAYS to help keep kids reading, learning all summer long

Tarrytown, NY-based Jac. Vandenberg, Inc. is excited to announce that through its SUNRAYS® brand it will be supporting Save the Children’s annual summer reading campaign in the United States, which starts today.

The 100 Days of Reading campaign will give children fun ways to keep reading and learning this summer, while also helping provide support and resources to rural America’s most vulnerable kids during this critical time.

Starting today until September 8, International Literacy Day, Save the Children will be sharing tips and activities on its Instagram (@savethechildren) and at SavetheChildren.org/READ to help ensure kids continue engaging in reading and stay active all summer long. In addition to offering activities, 100 Days of Reading will help feed the minds and bellies of children growing up across rural America. Every link that is clicked or tapped by participants will help unlock donations of books, educational materials and healthy food for kids living in some of America’s most impoverished, rural communities – where Save the Children is working every day to ensure children are getting the early learning and educational support they need to be successful in school and life. 

“Child hunger is on the rise across America due to COVID-19, putting children’s growth, development and well-being at risk. One hungry child is one too many,” said Tamara Sandberg, U.S. Food Security & Nutrition Advisor for Save the Children. “Families across the country need more help than ever getting nutritious meals on the table. Thank you, Sunrays, for supporting 100 Days of Reading and our efforts to help give rural children access to nourishing food that will facilitate their learning and development.”

“We are extremely proud to be joining forces with so many other like-minded organizations to help kids keep learning and reading this summer – especially those most hard hit by the pandemic,” says John Paap, Brand Manager at Jac. Vandenberg, Inc. “In effort to increase awareness around this campaign, all our SUNRAYS® mandarin bags will have a special message printed on the labels that will drive consumers to visit the campaign website, where they can get directly involved. We will also be donating several pallets of SUNRAYS® mandarins to Save the Children to distribute to kids facing hunger this summer.”

Since its inception in 2017, the SUNRAYS® brand has been partners with Save the Children and has donated over $250,000 to the charitable organization. Jac. Vandenberg, Inc. also encourages its retail partners carrying SUNRAYS® mandarins to highlight the 100 Days of Reading campaign in their stores.

“It’s campaigns like this that really get me excited and proud of the work I do,” says Paap. “This is just another example of how a small piece of fruit, like a mandarin, can make a huge impact on the lives of many. This is at the core of what make SUNRAYS® the brand it is – focused on bringing light to the darkness and building a brighter future for all. This is what it means to ‘Snack with Impact.’”