Dear Friends,
Thank you for your support of Food & Friends. As a community-based organization, your active involvement is vital to Food & Friends’ mission. I am proud to serve as the President of the Board of Directors and value the opportunity to share the impact of your generosity. As you will see from the Impact Report below, your investment in our mission profoundly and directly helps sick neighbors in our community. It inspires us, it makes our work possible, and it improves the health and quality of life of those we serve.
Today, amid crises in our food and healthcare systems and skyrocketing food and gas prices, Food & Friends is undergoing a period of rapid growth and evolution. In the past six months, under the strong leadership of our Executive Director, Carrie Stoltzfus and her team, we have enrolled over 772 additional people living with serious and chronic illnesses who are in need of our medically tailored meals and nutrition services. This has resulted in a 26% increase in the total number of people currently on service. In June alone, your support helped us prepare and home-deliver more than 156,000 meals for 2,605 individuals throughout an area larger than the size of Connecticut. We are now on track to prepare and deliver 1.5 million meals this year if the surge in demand continues.
While the numbers of meals we provide and neighbors we serve are impressive, what I really think about is each personal story behind that number. Imagine the overwhelming emotions of fear, helplessness, stress, and loneliness that come with a diagnosis and treatment for cancer, or HIV/AIDS, or diabetes, or heart failure, not to mention the ripple effect the diagnosis has within each family.
I am proud that we are continuing to build our legacy of service to the community and again proving our readiness to meet the moment. With half of our $13.5 million operating budget supported by philanthropy, our unprecedented growth and expansion would not be possible without you and other caring supporters who donate, volunteer, and tell others about our mission.
Your generosity means so much to each person served by Food & Friends. Your support not only provides nutritious meals, but allows for the human gifts of friendship, empathy, and kindness. “Friends” is not just a word in our name, it is an essential part of our mission. I know that each individual and family who benefits from your support joins me in saying thank you. So, as we look ahead, please keep us close in your thoughts, and stay in touch. We will continue to count on your support. Together, we will create a healthier and more compassionate community for neighbors who live with serious illnesses.
If you have any questions or feedback to share with me, please email me at JBaldwin@foodandfriends.org.
With gratitude,
Jill A. Baldwin
Board President, Food & Friends
