Cuisine for Healing was the dream of its founder, Wendy Wilkie, who researched which foods were healing for her while she battled breast cancer. "She created Cuisine for Healing to help make healthy meals and educational information easily and readily available to others fighting for their lives," as stated on the organization's website. The certification guidelines for the foods served by Cuisine for Healing are based on Wilkie's study.
After Wilkie's death in August of 2008, her good friend Sue Austin formed a planning committee to launch Cuisine for Healing and fulfill Wendy's dream. Austin now serves as president of the non-profit agency. She says, "Over the past few years, a lot of research has been done into which foods are healthy and healing for patients. For instance, when Wendy was first diagnosed, few people knew that it was important for patients with her form of estrogen-fueled breast cancer, to avoid things like hormone-treated chicken or soy products. I am amazed at how much information is available now."
For patients who qualify, Cuisine for Healing provides customized, freshly prepared meals free of charge. Dedicated volunteers deliver these meals to low-income and homebound patients. "We work with a system of referrals. We are able to identify patients in need of our services by our partnership with the patient navigators at most of the area's cancer treatment hospitals," Austin says.
