Community Servings and National Food Day Celebrate Healthy and Sustainable Food Movement

Leading health and nutrition nonprofit Community Servings will join the National Food Day movement on October 24 by raising awareness for healthy, affordable, and sustainable food initiatives. Community Servings continues to further their fundamental mission of providing medically tailored, home delivered meals as well as nutrition education and counseling to patients who are critically and chronically ill.

“At Community Servings we always maintain the philosophy that food is medicine,” said David Waters, CEO of Community Servings. “Not only do our medically tailored and culturally appropriate meals provide the essential nutrition for our patients combating life-threatening illnesses, but they also offer a ray of hope to those who need it most.”

Each year, the National Food Day movement brings together people from all walks of life to address issues related to health and nutrition, hunger, agricultural policy, animal welfare, and farm worker justice. As one of the most innovative food justice organizations in the country, Community Servings concentrates on these critical topics with initiatives such as volunteer programs, food service job training, advocacy and food policy.

Each day, Community Servings' staff and volunteers prepare, package and deliver lunch, dinner and a snack for 775 individuals and families across 215 square miles throughout Massachusetts. Currently, Community Servings provides meals to nearly 40 residents of Malden.

“As National Food Day approaches, we want to raise awareness of how our social programs consistently reinforce our fundamental mission,” added Waters. “Whether it is our innovative job training program or our social enterprise initiative, we are continuously thinking of new ways to support our core critical goal of ensuring that all critically and chronically ill individuals throughout Massachusetts have the nutrition they need to stay out of the hospital and recover in their homes.”

According to a 2005 study by the Centers for Disease Control, 133 million people, almost half of all Americans live with at least one chronic illness. Community Servings is the only organization north of New York City to fulfill the vital mission of providing meals to the critically and chronically ill.

To apply, clients must submit a completed intake packet, including a medical certification form completed by their doctor or nurse. Once paperwork has been submitted, Community Servings may contact the client, or their doctor or case manager directly to complete the most accurate eligibility assessment. Application information can be found online at: http://www.servings.org/programs/app_process.cfm

About Community Servings

Community Servings is a not‐for‐profit food and nutrition program providing services throughout

Massachusetts to individuals and families living with critical and chronic illnesses, such as HIV/AIDS, any form of Cancer, MS, Lou Gehrig’s disease and over 30 others. We provide our 775 clients, their dependent families, and caregivers with appealing, nutritious meals, lunch, dinner & a snack each day and send the message to those in greatest need that someone cares. Our goals are to help our clients maintain their health and dignity and preserve the integrity of their families through free, culturally appropriate, home‐delivered meals, nutrition education, and other community programs. To learn more visit www.servings.org.