Food Outreach: Scratch-Prepared Meals for Cancer Patients - Home Delivery Available
“Food & Nutrition and Health & Wellness come together at the core of our giving priorities for Bayer Fund, and we are proud to have helped to provide nearly 100,000 medically tailored meals – and counting – as part of Food Outreach’s direct impact on people’s lives,” said Bayer Fund’s President, Al Mitchell.
Food Outreach provides support to individuals facing both hunger and a cancer diagnosis, offering assistance during times when preparing nourishing meals can be daunting. It can feel overwhelming to prioritize healthy eating when you're unwell and lacking the means to obtain wholesome food.
“People living in economically distressed circumstances and diagnosed with cancer are most vulnerable in their fight to regain their health, as they generally do not have access to critical nutritional support, putting them at a greater disadvantage than others battling the same illnesses,” said Julie Lock, Food Outreach, Inc’s Executive Director.
“Food Outreach addresses this need by providing nutrition services, free-of-charge, to qualified clients who are battling food insecurity and a cancer diagnosis. It is a mission that aligns perfectly with the priorities of Bayer Fund. Food & Nutrition and Health & Wellness come together at the core of our giving priorities for Bayer Fund, and we are proud to have helped to provide nearly 100,000 medically tailored meals – and counting – as part of Food Outreach’s direct impact on people’s lives,” said Al Mitchell, Bayer Fund’s President.
Food Outreach's dedicated executive chef leads the development of their scratch-prepared meals, specially tailored to meet medical requirements. Upon enrollment, clients become eligible to receive a maximum of 60 meals per month, equating to two meals per day. These meals encompass a variety of scratch-prepared entrees, sides, as well as fresh produce and shelf-stable grocery items.
To ensure optimal nutrition, Food Outreach has two full-time dietitians who collaborate on menu creation and engage in personalized consultations with clients. These sessions involve discussions about their unique dietary needs in relation to their cancer diagnosis, goal setting, and counseling. The dietitians also provide valuable education about available resources.
For clients who face challenges such as disability, old age, limited mobility, or lack of access to transportation, Food Outreach operates a convenient home delivery program. Thanks to a generous grant from the Bayer Fund, the organization acquired a new vehicle, enabling them to expand the reach of their home delivery services. Julie explains, "In 2023, we anticipate delivering meals to up to 500 clients per month across 150 different zip codes."
The support from Bayer Fund donations also facilitated the purchase of a walk-in cooler/freezer combination, significantly augmenting Food Outreach's storage capacity. Julie notes, "We can now accommodate up to 15,000 scratch-prepared medically tailored meals on site at any given time."
Food costs have been a persistent challenge for Food Outreach, with a substantial increase of 42 percent in 2022. Despite this obstacle, the organization remains steadfast in their commitment to maintaining low meal unit costs.
“Medically tailored meals provided through for-profit retail outlets can cost between $8-$20 per meal. Food Outreach’s medically tailored meals are, at a minimum, 50 percent less expensive than retail,” said Julie.
She went on to add, “Food Outreach purchases 95 percent of its food from grocery distributors rather than depending on in-kind donations of food. This is important to provide our clients with consistency and ensure the high nutritional quality of our food.”
“Grants and individual donations allow Food Outreach to continue to provide high quality food at lower costs. Another important contribution is the support from more than 1,200 volunteers annually. This is the equivalent of 8.5 full-time employees, which dramatically reduces our overhead costs,” added Julie.
“Small interactions with clients let us know that the work we do makes a difference in their lives. From hearing that the food we provide feeds clients when they ‘don’t have money to cover groceries – even with a full-time job’ to the ‘services being a blessing’ and encouraging clients to try new foods they otherwise wouldn’t try, we find joy in spending time and building connections with clients,” noted Julie.
Food Outreach provides support to individuals facing both hunger and a cancer diagnosis, offering assistance during times when preparing nourishing meals can be daunting. It can feel overwhelming to prioritize healthy eating when you're unwell and lacking the means to obtain wholesome food.
“People living in economically distressed circumstances and diagnosed with cancer are most vulnerable in their fight to regain their health, as they generally do not have access to critical nutritional support, putting them at a greater disadvantage than others battling the same illnesses,” said Julie Lock, Food Outreach, Inc’s Executive Director.
“Food Outreach addresses this need by providing nutrition services, free-of-charge, to qualified clients who are battling food insecurity and a cancer diagnosis. It is a mission that aligns perfectly with the priorities of Bayer Fund. Food & Nutrition and Health & Wellness come together at the core of our giving priorities for Bayer Fund, and we are proud to have helped to provide nearly 100,000 medically tailored meals – and counting – as part of Food Outreach’s direct impact on people’s lives,” said Al Mitchell, Bayer Fund’s President.
Food Outreach's dedicated executive chef leads the development of their scratch-prepared meals, specially tailored to meet medical requirements. Upon enrollment, clients become eligible to receive a maximum of 60 meals per month, equating to two meals per day. These meals encompass a variety of scratch-prepared entrees, sides, as well as fresh produce and shelf-stable grocery items.
To ensure optimal nutrition, Food Outreach has two full-time dietitians who collaborate on menu creation and engage in personalized consultations with clients. These sessions involve discussions about their unique dietary needs in relation to their cancer diagnosis, goal setting, and counseling. The dietitians also provide valuable education about available resources.
For clients who face challenges such as disability, old age, limited mobility, or lack of access to transportation, Food Outreach operates a convenient home delivery program. Thanks to a generous grant from the Bayer Fund, the organization acquired a new vehicle, enabling them to expand the reach of their home delivery services. Julie explains, "In 2023, we anticipate delivering meals to up to 500 clients per month across 150 different zip codes."
The support from Bayer Fund donations also facilitated the purchase of a walk-in cooler/freezer combination, significantly augmenting Food Outreach's storage capacity. Julie notes, "We can now accommodate up to 15,000 scratch-prepared medically tailored meals on site at any given time."
Food costs have been a persistent challenge for Food Outreach, with a substantial increase of 42 percent in 2022. Despite this obstacle, the organization remains steadfast in their commitment to maintaining low meal unit costs.
“Medically tailored meals provided through for-profit retail outlets can cost between $8-$20 per meal. Food Outreach’s medically tailored meals are, at a minimum, 50 percent less expensive than retail,” said Julie.
She went on to add, “Food Outreach purchases 95 percent of its food from grocery distributors rather than depending on in-kind donations of food. This is important to provide our clients with consistency and ensure the high nutritional quality of our food.”
“Grants and individual donations allow Food Outreach to continue to provide high quality food at lower costs. Another important contribution is the support from more than 1,200 volunteers annually. This is the equivalent of 8.5 full-time employees, which dramatically reduces our overhead costs,” added Julie.
“Small interactions with clients let us know that the work we do makes a difference in their lives. From hearing that the food we provide feeds clients when they ‘don’t have money to cover groceries – even with a full-time job’ to the ‘services being a blessing’ and encouraging clients to try new foods they otherwise wouldn’t try, we find joy in spending time and building connections with clients,” noted Julie.
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