Our Vision
Our vision is a community where everyone who is seriously ill has the nourishment they need to manage their illness.
Food & Friends is built on a simple premise: anyone can get sick and everyone can help.
- We believe that everyone managing a serious illness should have the nourishment they need to improve their health and enhance their quality of life, so we prepare and provide specialized meals that are designed to meet the medical and dietary needs of each of our clients.
- We believe in nourishing both the body and the mind, so our meals are delivered by caring community members who also help end the sense of social isolation that can result from a serious illness, particularly for the homebound.
- We believe that no one is immune from illness, regardless of demographics or economic status.
We believe in the power of compassion and the importance of neighbors helping neighbors, so we create opportunities for impactful and fulfilling volunteer service that helps our sick neighbors in need and builds a healthier community for all.
Our Mission
To improve the lives and health of people with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses that limit their ability to provide nourishment for themselves by:
- preparing and delivering specialized meals and groceries that are designed to meet the medical and dietary needs of each of our clients;
- providing nutritional counseling and wellness education that enhances our clients’ quality of life; and
- creating a strong sense of community for both our clients and volunteers that reduces the social isolation that often comes with serious illnesses and provides meaningful opportunities for neighbors to help neighbors in need.
Food & Friends Values
Compassion
Community
Dignity
Diversity
Excellence
Reliability
Accountability
Compassion
Community
Dignity
Diversity
Excellence
Reliability
Accountability
Compassion
Community
Dignity
Diversity
Excellence
Reliability
Accountability
Compassion
Services We Provide
Home Delivered Meals
Food & Friends delivers medically tailored, delicious meals directly to our clients’ homes. Our professional dietitians and chefs work closely to provide individualized meal plans that aim to improve health and quality of life.
Medically Tailored Groceries
Medically Tailored Groceries, delivered every two weeks, is a service that includes fresh produce, frozen meats such as fish and poultry, frozen soups and entrees prepared in our kitchen, and pantry items. The service is available for individuals and families who live outside our freshly-prepared meals delivery area. It is also available for those clients who are able to do light meal preparation, or who have a caregiver to do so.
Nutrition Counseling
At Food & Friends, we consider nutrition to be a vital part of the treatment for our clients. Our community dietitians are available to provide individual nutrition counseling to all of our clients. In addition, within the community, we provide workshops on nutrition and wellness, on-site cooking classes, and educational materials.
In addition, within the community, we provide the following services, all of which are free of charge:
- Virtual nutrition education classes
- Educational handouts on increasing protein and calorie intake, food safety and more
- Off-site group presentations on nutrition related to HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses
Food & Friends is a proud member of the Food Is Medicine Coalition.