ST. LOUIS – The American Cancer Society recently awarded $50,000 to Food Outreach to provide free medically tailored meals, groceries, and dietetic counseling to people with cancer during treatment. The grant is part of the nationwide Addressing Barriers to Care (ABC) Grant Program which is designed to mitigate barriers to care and health-related social needs of cancer patients, including food security and nutrition. Food Outreach is the sole recipient of an ABC Grant from the American Cancer society in the Midwest, highlighting the organization’s critical role in providing nutrition support to patients with cancer across the St. Louis region.
“Food Outreach is deeply grateful to the American Cancer Society for their generous support in helping us bridge a critical funding gap for clients with cancer,” said Sydney Gosik, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Food Outreach.” As the demand for our medically tailored nutrition services continues to grow, so do the challenges of rising food and delivery costs. This funding will enable us to continue providing life-saving nutritional support to more than 550 clients battling cancer, upholding our long-standing commitment to never turning away an eligible client. With this grant, we remain steadfast in our mission to nourish and uplift those facing the dual challenges of food insecurity and cancer, while also working toward long-term sustainability for our services.”
Food Outreach is the only provider of medically tailored meals and nutrition counseling for people living with financial vulnerability and HIV or cancer in Missouri and western Illinois. For 37 years, Food Outreach has been at the forefront of delivering innovative and progressive nutrition initiatives that utilize a “Food as Medicine” approach (e.g., nutrition as a pathway for chronic disease management and treatment) to positively affect the complex and evolving health challenges faced by our most vulnerable community members. All Food Outreach clients live at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), although most cancer clients (82%) live at or below 100% FPL (less than $15,650 per year). Food Outreach remains a vital resource in the greater St. Louis region meeting the nutrition needs of people battling nutrition insecurity and cancer.
Medically tailored meals are critical in supporting individuals undergoing cancer treatment, providing essential nutrition that enhances treatment efficacy, boosts the immune system, and improves overall well-being. Cancer treatments often cause debilitating side effects—such as nausea, loss of appetite, and digestive issues—that make it challenging for patients to eat, absorb nutrients, and maintain their strength. According to American Cancer Society researchers, proper nutrition during treatment helps patients feel better, maintain energy, tolerate treatment and its side effects, reduce complications and infections, and recover more quickly.
“The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age – Social Drivers of Health – can have an especially meaningful effect on the chances of detecting and surviving cancer,” said Elizabeth Brown, Executive Director, American Cancer Society St. Louis. “According to American Cancer Society researchers, more than one in five patients with cancer in the United States struggle to meet at least one basic need. We believe no one should be disadvantaged in their fight against cancer, which is why we are so proud to partner with Food Outreach to address patients’ health-related social needs.”
Food Outreach’s program ensures that each client receives nourishing meals expertly designed by registered dietitians to meet their unique dietary needs. Food Outreach prepares all meals in-house from scratch at its Midtown St. Louis commercial kitchen, using the highest quality ingredients and flash-freezing them to lock in freshness and flavor. The program focuses on client choice as each participant selects their meals and grocery items from a rotating menu of seasonal, healthy, and culturally appropriate options. All clients work with on-staff registered dietitians to build care plans tailored to their needs, including screenings to provide nutritional supplements to combat malnutrition and ensuring clients have the necessary kitchen tools to store and prepare meals appropriately. Food Outreach also offers home delivery to clients unable to receive services in-person due to transportation barriers or the severity of their illness. Food Outreach completes over 4,200 deliveries each year so that clients maintain access to nutrition. By addressing food insecurity and improving nutritional intake, Food Outreach’s nutrition services help clients manage their cancer treatment and feel better, ultimately improving their health outcomes and enhancing their quality of life. With an unwavering commitment to health and healing, Food Outreach works to ensure that no one facing cancer goes without the nourishment they need to recover and thrive.
The American Cancer Society believes all people should have a fair and just opportunity to live a longer, healthier life free from cancer regardless of how much money they make, skin color, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or where they live. The support of the American Cancer Society is critical in helping Food Outreach provide essential services to those who need it most, reinforcing the belief that everyone should have access to life-saving nutrition support.
About Food Outreach
Founded in 1988, Food Outreach is the only organization and nonprofit in Missouri and Western Illinois providing nutritional support, through its Medically Tailored Meals and Grocery Program, to individuals of all ages living with HIV or cancer. The organization currently serves more than 1,970 individuals in 144 Missouri and Illinois zip codes—many of whom live with multiple secondary illnesses in addition to their primary diagnosis. For more information visit: foodoutreach.org or call 314-652-3663. Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 100 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.