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Roxbury, MA
Nominated by Representative Michael E. Capuano (MA)
Community Servings is Massachusetts’ only free, high nutrient, customized, home delivered meals program for people living with life-threatening illness, their dependents and caregivers. Throughout Greater Boston, Community Servings delivers tailored and nutritious lunch, dinner and snacks to 650 individuals struggling with more than 20 different types of illnesses, including HIV/AIDS, cancers, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, liver and kidney disease, hepatitis and lupus.
In consultation with clients’ healthcare provider, a Registered Dietician uses medical nutrition therapy to tailor one of 22 special diets to the clients’ healthcare and nutritional needs. Such tailored diets allow Community Servings to provide over 40 different diet combinations.
Among its many accomplishments Community Servings was recognized by Community Health Funding Week as one of the “Best of the Best” community-based healthcare organizations in the nation. Also in 2006, Boston Business Journal named Community Servings a “Champion in Health Care” in the Greater Boston region.
Atlanta, GA
Nominated by Senator Saxby Chambliss (GA)
and
Representative John Lewis (GA)
Project Open Hand-Atlanta, Inc.’s mission in “to help people with chronic disease or disability overcome barriers to improved health by offering home-delivered meals and prevention-based nutrition programs.” In order to uphold their mission, a Comprehensive Nutrition Care program is utilized to meet varying client needs, both in terms of health and personalized goals and objectives.
The Comprehensive Care Program includes six different components. First, their foundation is the Prepared Meals Program, by which Open Hand provides between one and three personally tailored menus by a registered dietitians, such as Diabetic, Mechanical Soft, and 2-gram Sodium. They also provide nutritious snacks and supplements. Secondly, Open Hand offers Nutrition Education & Counseling in order to give clients hands-on food preparation skills, portion control and food management classes. Thirdly, Open Hand’s registered dietitians perform Medical Nutrition Therapy, designed by the American Dietetic Association, which targets specific medical conditions and includes nutrition diagnosis, therapy, and counseling services. The last three aspects of the Comprehensive Care Program are the Pantry program, which provides clients with a week supply of non-perishable groceries, the Emergency Nutrition Supplement program which provides meal replacement snacks and supplements, and lastly, The Atlanta Collaborative Kitchen (TACK) which runs a job training program for unemployed and underemployed adults in the culinary arts/food service industry.
Minneapolis, MN
Nominated by Senator Norm Coleman (MN)
and
Representative Amy Klobuchar (MN)
In 1986, a few volunteers prepared and delivered 55 meals to people living with AIDS. Over the last 21 years, the organization has grown extensively and recently served its one-millionth meal in June of 2006. Open Arms is the only non profit in Minnesota that prepares and delivers free nutritious meals designed by a Registered Dietician and the Food Services Director. They create personally tailored meals such as the Mild Diet meals for those who avoid strong spices and smells, such as those who have difficulty eating due to nausea caused by chemotherapy or radiation. For those clients who have trouble swallowing (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or multiple sclerosis), they are currently creating a soft/liquid menu. Open Arms has also begun piloting a culturally appropriate menu to be delivered to 16 African clients from 10 different African countries, which includes familiar food such as lentils, yucca, chick peas, sweet potatoes and rice.
In addition to their meal program, Open Arms offers nutrition counseling and supplements such as Ensure and Nausea Care Packs, which contain foods such as crackers, ginger ale, and Jell-O that can help calm an upset stomach.
Domestically, Open Arms has participated in two national surveys studying the cost-effectiveness of nutrition intervention programs in reducing inpatient hospitalizations and nursing home stays. The findings were published in 2006 by the Association of Nutrition Services Agencies.
Internationally, Open Arms has started an international feeding program in South Africa. They sponsor a daily hot lunch for members of an AIDS support group and their affected family members.
Denver, CO
Nominated by Representative Diana DeGette (CO)
Serving the Denver Metropolitan area since 1991, Project Angel Heart has provided up to three meals a day, six days a week to the financially disadvantaged and minority populations that are living with the challenges of chronic illnesses. The organization’s goal is to help clients maintain their health, independence, and self-dignity. Project Angel Heart collaborates with a wide range of medical and social service providers to effectively deliver nutritious meals in concert with a holistic healthcare approach, including nutrient dense meals designed for clients’ specific needs and dietary restrictions.
Furthermore, in 2002, the El Pomar Foundation, which consists of Colorado’s medical and non-profit community, recognized Project Angel Heart as “Colorado’s Most Outstanding Nonprofit Organization.”
South Bend, IN
Nominated by Representative Joe Donnelly (IN)
AM/AA operates the only food bank in their six county service area that specifically provides food and nutritional supplements to individuals who are HIV positive or who have AIDS. The organization has food pantries in both their South Bend and Elkhart office locations in order to serve the unique health needs of clients who require good nutrition to in turn obtain the full benefit of AIDS medications and treatments.
In addition to groceries, AM/AA provides liquid nutritional supplements of Nestlé’s Boost in cooperation with AIDS Nutrition Services Alliance.
After recently increasing the frequency of access and quantity of food distributed per month. AM/AA has introduced even more quality fresh foods, dairy products and meats with appreciation for the benefits of locally grown food.
Founded in 1989 by the North Indiana Conference of the Methodist Church, AM/AA has emerged as one of the state’s leading AIDS Service Organizations, serving 125 clients with varying medical conditions ranging from mild to life threatening. As the initial belief that a cure was coming passed quickly, education about HIV and its prevention came to the forefront of the agency’s goals while it remains committed to serving those facing HIV. AM/AA educates the community and works with them to find effective, common sense solutions to preventing HIV and assisting those who have HIV.
Duquesne, PA
Nominated by Representative Mike Doyle (PA)
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank serves 380 food assistance agencies more than 18 million pounds of food and grocery products a year. One of the Food Bank’s member agencies is the “Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force (Task Force),” which is a volunteer-run food pantry that serves those with HIV/AIDS, and other life-threatening illnesses. To provide fresh fruits, vegetables and easy to consume products to this vulnerable population, the Food Bank has secured grant funds to support pantry distribution and the cost of food deliveries to the Task Force. It has also helped the Task Force to secure needed equipment, such as an upright freezer, a dolly, a shelving unit and six shopping carts. With such mentioned support, the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force can provide 3-5 large grocery bags of food to their clients. The Food Bank believes that food is medicine and has shown its dedication to health and nutrition of those living with HIV/AIDS in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Ellington, MO
Nominated by Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO)
A major criteria for winning a Victory Against Hunger (VAH) award is whether the $1,000 cash award will make a substantial difference in the organization’s ability to provide future valuable contributions to the nutrition and health status of the targeted population highlighted. This is certainly the case for Whole Health Outreach. The VAH awards committee also likes to select a mixture of rural and urban awardees.
WHO responds to the crisis in rural health care and health education in a local preventive and personal manner. The focus of this group is on chronically and terminally ill individuals in rural Sothern Missouri.
WHO distributes significant nutrition supplements to chronically and terminally ill people in five rural Missouri counties.
San Antonio, TX
Nominated by Representative Charles A. Gonzalez (TX)
SAAF provides three hot meals daily to nearly 400 unduplicated clients. Utilizing a congregate setting by which they serve meals, SAAF ensures that clients take their medication appropriately and in conjunction with eating. This method also allows the clients to find companionship and socialize, since illness can easily isolate those from their communities. During these communal meals, it allows clients to learn of other important services provided by SAAF or through other agencies. Since 1991, SAAF has been serving 40,000 meals annually to the HIV-infected community and many residents of SAAF’s skilled nursing/hospice facility.
Redondo Beach, CA
Nominated by Representative Jane Harman (CA)
Amigos serves Los Angeles’ South Bay HIV/AIDS community through their Circle of Life Food Pantry, the only AIDS food Pantry in the area. Initially, Amigos was to only provide education and outreach for the disease, however it quickly evolved into a holistic approach to the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients. In 2003, Amigos created the Circle of Life Food Pantry to help those infected battle the disease while maintaining quality of life. This organization provides weekly hot meals high in nutritional value to sustain immune systems and prevent or delay the progression to late-stage disease, including meals tailored specifically to those with special dietary requirements (diabetes-low sugar, hyper tension low sodium). Amigos also provides nutrition supplements and supermarket food certificates to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy products. Unique to the organization, Amigos is admisistered by 25 volunteers who can understand those living with HIV/AIDS for they too have the disease.
Washington, DC
Nominated by Representative Steny H. Hoyer (MD)
And
Representative Eleanor Homes Norton (DC)
Washington, DC’s leads the country in newly diagnosed cases of HIV, with 11 times the national average of prevalence rates. The District also has the highest per capita cancer mortality rate in the United States. With such staggering statistics, Food & Friends have undertaken the responsibility of preparing and delivering specialized meals and groceries and offering nutrition counseling to those with chronic or life threatening illnesses who are living in the District and its surrounding areas. Currently the organization is delivering 3,500 meals to homes each day, six days a week. Their professional chefs and registered dieticians have carefully designed 14 specialized diets to meet the distinct nutritional challenges, symptoms, treatment side effects and dietary restrictions of varying diseases, pairing each client with the one or a blend that suites them best. Supported by 4,500 volunteers, Food & Friends not only improves the quality of life for those with chronic illnesses, but the organization also brings an element of stability to the lives of their clients and dependent loved ones.
Milwaukee, WI
Nominated by Senator Herb Kohl (WI)
ARCW was founded to confront the disparity of many HIV/AIDS patients having difficulty receiving assistance from traditional food pantries, because of side effects from medications or other life threatening illnesses. ARCW operates four food slides in the cities of Eau Claire, Green Bay, Kenosha and Milwaukee. In the past year, 1,194 HIV/AIDS positive clients have benefited from access to healthy food that meet their individual medical needs as well as access to nutrition education. The organization delivers meals to those who are unable to travel. For the past two decades ARCW has shown true commitment to food as medicine by providing much needed HIV/AIDS sensitive health care and the nutrition resources that are essential to HIV health management.
New Orleans, LA
Nominated by Senator Mary Landrieu (LA)
NO/AIDS Task Force’s mission is “to reduce the spread of HIV infection, provide services, advocate empowerment, safeguard the rights and dignity of HIV-affected individuals, and provide for an enlightened public.” Some of the many programs and services that NO/AIDS Task Force provides are: home delivered meals, access to a food pantry, HIV antibody testing and counseling, support groups, housing case management and the operation of a transitional independent residential facility in Houma, LA. Their home delivered meals and food pantry services are run by NO/AIDS Task Force’s Food for Friends Program. Food for Friends is tailored to provide HIV/AIDS clients access to a personally customized dietary intake that is essential to the adherence and effectiveness of HIV medications. Food for Friends also provides two 20 pound bags of products once a month to their clients.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Food for Friends’ building and equipment were destroyed. With the support and partnership of a local organization, Covenant House of New Orleans, Food for Friends now has the means to prepare and deliver 20 meals per week per client. Furthermore, their food pantry is operating out of their administrative offices and provides an additional $25 gift card to a local grocery store for clients to purchase fresh produce, dairy and meat products. The number of clients currently being served continues to grow as New Orleans’ residents continue to return to the city.
Hempstead, NY
Nominated by Representative Carolyn McCarthy (NY)
EAC, Inc. Food Nutrition Services serves HIV/AIDS patients and the elderly of Nassau County, New York and are funded by the New York State Department of Health, Aids Institute. EAC services include home delivered meals, weekly pantry bags, and nutrition education and counseling. The organization is also the only food pantry in Nassau County targeted to feeding people with HIV/AIDS. This organization understands the need for critical nutrition services for these two vulnerable populations. EAC Inc.’s Food and Nutrition Services helps those living with life threatening illness secure access to high nutrient foods, and at the same time, has saved thousands of dollars in unnecessary health expenses.
To meet the demand of the increase in HIV/AIDS patients, EAC has collaborated with partner organizations to purchase a walk in freezer, which allowed them to double the amount of their frozen food storage, and secure grants from food banks to feed people of color who are nutritionally at risk because of HIV/AIDS. Nassau County is fortunate to have such an organization.
St. Louis, MO
Nominated by Senator Claire McClaskill (MO)
Food Outreach, Inc. serves 137 clients in Missouri and Illinois within a 200-mile radius of their St. Louis facility. This one-stop service center provides meals prepared by a Chef and Registered Dietician, groceries, congregate hot lunches, nutrition classes, nutrition counseling and monitoring, to name a few. In 2006, the organization served 265,000 meals. For those clients whom are home-bound, they also receive nutrition counseling in the home. While Food Outreach, Inc. drivers, who are clients themselves, deliver frozen meals and groceries, they personally ensure home health services are regularly and consistently applied. Unique to the organization, all clients have the ability to self-refer, which eliminates barriers to those in need of service, and also, their clients do not have to be critically ill to receive services. Food Outreach Inc.’s goal is to delay and in some cases prevent the later debilitating effects of disease. Their vision is to give everyone the opportunity to have the same chance at survival as individuals who can afford nutritious meals and support.
Seattle, Washington
Nominated by Representative Jim McDermott (WA)
The Chicken Soup Brigade (CSB) is the successful food program of Lifelong AIDS Alliance. Their food program provides fresh nutritious meals and bags of groceries, each modified to the client’s medications, nutritional requirements, and culture. In 2006, the CSB prepared and distributed 104,422 fresh meals and 32,714 bags of groceries to 1,226 people in King’s County. Even though CSB was started only to service the HIV/AIDS community, now more than 20% of the organization’s clients are living with illnesses and disabilities other than HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, to address the increasing East African immigrant population in Seattle, Lifelong AIDS Alliance’s dieticians have created a culturally appropriate bag of food which includes yams, collard greens, injera (Ethiopian flat bread), and lentils. This is just one of the 18 meal types that CSB prepares for clients to accommodate for medical need, and cultural or religious preferences.
CSB’s registered dieticians have documented dramatic improvements in clients’ blood pressure, weight, food intake, triglycerides and other biometric parameters.
The average cost of one day in the hospital for a patient with diabetes is $3,800, but CSB’s medical nutrition service costs less than $2,000 per client per year. Some call these services “medical nutrition therapy,” but Tina Podlokowski, Executive Director of Lifelong AIDS Alliance, likes to call them “common sense and cheap health care.”
Worcester, MA
Nominated by Representative James P. McGovern (MA)
APW is the primary and most comprehensive AIDS Service Organization in central Massachusetts. Services are offered in English, Spanish and American Sign Language. Interpretation services are available for those speaking other languages. APW has a high number of female clients, of which, most have children. Ninety six percent of APW’s clients live below the federal poverty line.
One of the unique and quite valuable attributes of APW is the exceptional settings for client services. These services are provided in homes, hospitals, respite settings, detoxification and substance abuse treatment programs, community-based organizations and other locations. APW seeks to serve its clients in whatever environment works for them.
APW currently serves close to 6,000 people with home-delivered meals, congregate meal service, food vouchers or a food pantry program.
The dedicated staff and volunteers at APW work everyday to find real solutions to end hunger and poverty. Their work illustrates the power and effectiveness of using food as medicine for those living with life threatening illnesses.
New York, NY
Nominated by Representative Jerrold Nadler (NY)
GLWD is an exemplary non-profit organization that last year alone provided 674,106 nutritious home-delivered meals to 3,542 unduplicated recipients (clients, dependents, caregivers) living in the New York metropolitan area, Hudson County, and Newark, New Jersey. For over 20 years, GLWD has delivered two personally developed, nutritionally therapeutic meals each weekday to those with HIV/AIDS, cancer, MS, Alzheimer’s disease, and other life threatening illnesses who cannot provide for themselves. GLWD’s nutritionists work closely with the client and with his/her medical provider to find a menu that will address the client’s individual nutritional and medical needs.
GLWD’s services also include counseling, education and publications to clients’ family members and their community.
In addition the many services GLWD provides, they also personalize birthday cakes for their clients and include an extra meal to the clients’ houses during holidays, like Thanksgiving and Christmas, to share with a relative or to invite a friend. Overall, GLWD provides food as medicine; medicine that smells, tastes and makes one feel good while providing necessary nourishment for overall improvement of health.
San Francisco, CA
Nominated by Representative Nancy Pelosi (CA)
In 1985, Ruth Brinker responded to those people living with HIV/AIDS when no other service agency was providing meals to those to weak from AIDS to feed themselves. In a church basement, she prepared home-cooked meals and delivered them to seven San Franciscans who were wasting away with AIDS. As the epidemic spread, so did Project Open Hand. Today, the organization serves over 7,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, breast cancer, and other life threatening illnesses and the elderly in San Francisco and Alameda County.
Long before the advent of powerful medication to control HIV/AIDS, Project Open Hand’s home-cooked meals delivered “with love” were a lifeline to the ill and isolated.
Today over 83,000 meals and 66,000 grocery bags are prepared and delivered continuously and consistently “with love.”
Denver, CO
Nominated by Senator Ken Salazar (CO)
CAP was founded in 1993 as the first community-wide response to the HIV/AIDS crisis that was devastating the Denver metro area. CAP provides a multi service approach to HIV/AIDS clients by offering vital services through the CAP Wellness Resource Center, Housing Services Center and the Prevention and Education Center.
CAP’s food bank has grown from a small food pantry to a food center receiving 13, 000 visits from clients and providing food for 92,000 meals.
One of the unique aspects of the CAP food bank’s approach to improving the health and quality of life for its clients is its collaboration project with Denver’s HIV/AIDS Dietician group. This group offers cooking and nutrition classes specifically geared to those living with HIV/AIDS.
Chicago, IL
Nominated by Jan D. Schakowsky (IL)
Vital Bridges helps people throughout metropolitan Chicago impacted by HIV and AIDS to improve their health and build self-sufficiency by providing food, nutrition, housing case management and educational services. Through their Food Services program, Vital Bridges provides more than 530,000 culturally appropriate and nutritious meals every year to people living with HIV/AIDS throughout the metropolitan Chicago area.
Access to nutrition and nutrition services can save billions of dollars in unnecessary medical costs for people with diabetes, cancer and HIV/AIDS, particularly in communities that have high rates of infection. Vital Bridges serves a racially and ethnically diverse population. The organization provides clients with high nutrient foods including meat, fresh fruit and vegetables. The staff nutritionists make sure that clients’ diets meet the specific nutritional requirements of people living with HIV/AIDS.
Vital Bridges serves nearly 2,000 people through it five programs. Representative Schakowsky has worked with Vital Bridges for many years and strongly believes that this organization serves as a model for other HIV/AIDS programs.
Philadelphia, PA
Nominated by Senator Arlen Specter (PA)
MANNA is a real success story for the anti-hunger and HIV/AIDS community. As Senator Specter’s nomination letter points outs, MANNA was founded in 1990 when seven members of the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia decided that every person with HIV/AIDS that needed assistance would get it, regardless of their income. Today MANNA has greatly surpassed its original expectation by serving 2,000 meals a day.
MANNA services have expanded to include nutrition education and counseling. A new oncology program has also been recently added.
For the past 17 years, MANNA has exemplified the VAH theme of “food as medicine” through its provision of home delivered meals and nutritional counseling to people throughout the greater Philadelphia area who are coping with a life-threatening illness such as HIV/AIDS or cancer. MANNA has recognized and implemented what medical research has told us: “that quality nutrition is especially important for people living with life threatening illnesses,” and as such, MANNA fills an important need in the city of Philadelphia and the immediate area.
Los Angeles, CA
Nominated by Henry Waxman (CA)
Project Chicken Soup (PCS) prepares and delivers nutritious meals to people living with HIV/AIDS throughout greater Los Angeles. PCS is a volunteer led organization, serving low-income people, including members of the gay, Latino and African American communities and monolingual Spanish speaking immigrants.
In 2006, 1,200 volunteers spent 10,500 hours ensuring the preparation and delivery of nearly 8,000 meals to their clients. These high nutrient meals add to the quality of life for people with HIV/AIDS.
PCS expects to use its VAH award to foster a new collaborative with Project Angel Food and the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center focusing on nutrition education workshops, and providing cooking classes emphasizing the importance of health. These funds will also facilitate the creation of a community garden, allowing PCS to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to its clients.
Return to Press Release
Contact Information:
Ed Cooney or Angelina Pérez
Congressional Hunger Center
Hall of the States Building
400 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite G-100
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 547-7022; fax (202) 547-7575
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