Richelle Hewins, MBA is the regional manager at Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation. She has a dynamic job serving the community. She took on an important new role in 2018, and her parents were facing significant health challenges. Richelle looked after them daily, so the next two years were a blur.
Then, around the beginning of the pandemic, her family found out about Food & Friends. Her dad Richard got cancer in 2018, and her mom Angela had type 2 diabetes. Her father Richard was also the full-time caregiver for Angela at the time. The loving couple had been married for 50 years and were inseparable.
They were looking for a healthy meal option that would take some of the pressure off their weekly meal prep. Angela was referred by her diabetes specialist to try Food & Friends. At first, they were not sure. Angela was already a healthy eater. But with both parents in a wheelchair, it was a constant hustle to have healthy options on hand. Angela is a double amputee, so shopping trips are a challenge.
Since Richard was the caregiver for Angela, he was eligible to receive medically tailored meals from Food & Friends too. They decided to give it a try. Angela was delighted to learn that she could work with a Food & Friends dietitian to receive individual nutrition counseling. She learned more about how to manage the symptoms of her diabetes through healthy eating.
“You can tell when something is packaged with love, it looks professional, it is always appetizing. My mom can choose what she wants to eat. Her A1C levels have improved, and that has a lot to do with nutrition. Food & Friends has really helped her balance out her health, and it has helped me out a lot as a caregiver. I am so thankful we found it,” shares Richelle.
The connections they made with volunteers are another thing they cherish. Angela and Richard were on a first-name basis with their delivery volunteers. The volunteers would even bring the food into the kitchen and take time to socialize and visit.
The personal touches provided by Food & Friends made it feel like a supportive family. Sometimes if Angela had an appointment, her neighbors across the street would pick up the food and bring it inside. Everyone was looking out for them. Our Client Services team were always vigilant and flexible with scheduling changes.
Food & Friends went far beyond just a meal delivery, they provided cakes for Angela and Richard on their birthdays. On Thanksgiving, they chose to receive a full Thanksgiving feast from Food & Friends.
“When the Thanksgiving holidays came around, it took the burden off me. When the meals were delivered, I could woo-sah. They delivered everything, the turkey, the rolls, the corn, down to the cranberry sauce. It was delicious and enough for the whole family. My dad loved the apple pie.” 
Richard Hewins peacefully transitioned on Friday, May 5, 2023. We are honored to have served this loving father and husband. Angela’s health continues to improve, and her relationship with her Food & Friends dietitian continues to support that.
Food & Friends will premiere a special documentary short featuring Richelle and Angela at the 30th Anniversary Chef’s Best Dinner & Auction on August 21, 2023, at the Marriott Marquis. We hope you will join us in supporting our signature annual event and our most important fundraiser of the year. Please purchase tickets today:
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