Loris Adams always led a vibrant life rooted in service, advocacy, and faith. An ordained reverend through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Loris poured her energy into lifting others, volunteering and supporting church-based feeding programs in her community. Professionally, she championed equity and inclusion as the Director of Equity and Community Life at The Hewitt School for girls in New York City, a role that reflected her lifelong commitment to justice and care for others.
All of that suddenly changed when she learned that she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer shortly after moving to Takoma Park from New York in June 2022. Between cancer treatments and an appendix surgery, she found herself in and out of the hospital and was often too weak to get out of bed, let alone cook for herself. That’s when Food & Friends came into the picture.
By January 2023, her doctor at Sibley Memorial Hospital referred Adams to Food & Friends, which provided home-delivered, medically tailored meals to Adams and her adult son and caregiver, Asa. The first time they received a meal delivery, she was surprised at how “abundant” it was. From the start, that delivery gave her assurance that “this overall journey is going to be scary, but it’s going to be okay.”
“It was more than I could ever imagine,” she said. “I cried because I felt in the moment, ‘I’m going to be okay.’”
Before she began receiving meals, Adams said she was “scared to eat.” She wasn’t sure what she could consume, often felt nauseous, and occasionally passed out after eating. And having her son prepare meals on top of all his caregiving duties “would’ve been close to impossible.”
But after her first Food & Friends’ meal of white bean chili, she recalls feeling better within an hour. She described the meals as “tasty,” clearly “made with love,” and full of protein that “kept me strong.” The meals were delivered by volunteers who were always “cheerful” and “encouraging.”
Adams credits Food & Friends’ nutritious meals, friendly volunteers, and community connection as “essential to my care and living through cancer.”
“Food & Friends was truly a lifeline in how I survived this experience,” Adams said. “Food & Friends provided food for my body and soul.”
Receiving medically tailored meals also eased the financial pressure Adams felt at a time when her out-of-pocket chemotherapy costs were $1,000 per treatment and $100 per blood draw. With her meals taken care of, Adams could truly focus on paying her hospital bills instead of grocery bills, and she could save her strength for other health needs, such as walking every day.
Today, Adams is in remission, and she and her son sometimes reminisce about how good the Food & Friends meals were. She still uses the tips from her community dietitian, including incorporating smoothies, hummus, and trail mix into her diet. And with her health improving, she’s paying the good deeds forward. She recently returned to Food & Friends to volunteer with her coworkers at the National Cathedral School, where she now heads diversity, equity, inclusion, and ethical leadership.
Loris Adams volunteers at Food & Friends packaging medically tailored groceries
“It’s emotional,” Adams said of the visit. “I’m really just thankful. I don’t know if people realize when they come to volunteer how lifegiving Food & Friends is, truly.”