We don't automatically think of food as a weapon when we or our loved ones are fighting life-threatening diseases. But it only makes sense that feeding the body nutritious foods is part of that struggle.
"At a time when it's more important than ever to eat healthy, many cancer patients and others fighting for their lives simply do not have access to the kind of food they need, let alone the energy or ability to shop for and prepare healthy meals," said Sue Austin, president of Cuisine for Healing.
The organization, founded by the late Wendy Wilkie, a young mother fighting breast cancer, prepares and delivers specially crafted meals to patients who qualify for the organization's Outreach Food Program. It delivered 72 meals in its first month in operation in February 2010. A new 3,000-square-foot kitchen opened in January that will make it possible to deliver 25,000 meals in 2015.
"As far as we know, no other nonprofit organization in Texas has the same kind of meal program as Cuisine for Healing," Austin said. The program provides two meals per day, seven days a week, at no cost to qualifying patients in the Tarrant County area. Meals can be picked up by family, friends or delivered at no charge to the client's home by a volunteer. Clients for the program are referred from major cancer treatment facilities in Tarrant County.
Not everyone qualifies for the Outreach Food Program, but the meals Cuisine for Healing prepares are available to everyone through the organization's retail food program. New this year is online ordering through the website (cuisineforhealing.org) where a shopping cart function has been added. Previously, orders had to be placed by phone or email.
The program started as an enhancement of cancer treatment, but it is for those fighting other diseases as well, such as heart patients, diabetics and those with other life-threatening diseases, Austin said. "People who purchase these meals know that they are receiving healthy, delicious, fresh meals that have been specifically developed to help the body heal," she said.
Wilkie created Cuisine for Healing in 2006 with a dream of having healthy, fresh, delicious meals delivered to the homes of people when they were too sick to drive, shop or cook for themselves. She lost her battle with cancer in August 2008, but a group of her friends carried on for her.
"Wendy's big heart, selflessness, tenacity and spirit live on as we carry the torch forward to fulfill her vision and grow Cuisine for Healing to feed those with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses," Austin said.
