About Us
Our Mission
Food Equality Initiative fights for nutrition security and health equity for all.
Our Vision
A world where every person has access to the food needed to thrive regardless of economic status.
Our Objective
Increase access to nourishing food as medicine for those facing food insecurity.
Very thankful for this service, it relieves a lot of stress off my shoulders knowing I can put food on the table, and access affordable foods shipped to you!
- FEI Client
At Food Equality Initiative (FEI), we believe that access to nourishing food is a fundamental human right. We fight for nutrition security and health equity by increasing access to food as medicine for those experiencing food insecurity and chronic conditions. Our work, deeply rooted in research, spans individual and community levels, aiming to create lasting change.
Despite the presence of food assistance programs, food pantries, and soup kitchens, hunger and food insecurity still haunt our nation, our towns, our communities, and our families. The struggle extends beyond hunger to include nutrition insecurity, which fuels chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. These issues are pervasive, affecting the health and well-being of countless individuals and families across the country.
To truly address these challenges, we put the voices of those impacted by food and nutrition insecurity at the heart of our mission. By listening to their experiences and understanding their needs, we are able to design more effective, culturally sensitive, and inclusive programs and policies. This inclusive approach ensures that our efforts resonate deeply within the communities we serve, leading to a transformative impact that can last for decades and beyond.
Our research focuses on improving the accessibility of nutritious food to reduce health disparities for historically excluded populations. We aim to uncover the root causes of nutrition insecurity and develop innovative solutions that promote health equity. By working through an inclusive lens, we strive to ensure that every individual, regardless of their background or circumstances, has the opportunity to thrive. Our commitment to health equity drives us to create a future where everyone has access to the nourishing food they need to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
Together, we can build a world where nutrition security and health equity are realities for all, breaking the cycle of food insecurity and chronic conditions and fostering a healthier, more equitable society.
FEI Briefs
Our 3 Pillars
Access
Subsidized direct-to-door grocery delivery service
Kansas City area
Foods catered to different dietary needs
Education
Free-From Podcast
Free-From Blogazine
Webinars
Recipes
Newsletters
Advocacy
Support research projects
Lobby for legislative and institutional change
Advocate for traditionally under-represented populations
You can feed a family who needs
food as their medicine.
Food Equality Initiative News
Meet the Team
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Erin Martinez
CEO
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Christie Carter
Marketing & Development Director
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Meredith Mershon
Grants Director
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Crysta Green
Executive Assistant
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Riley Stehlik
Intern
Board of Directors
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Leigh Wagner, PhD
Board President
Private Practice RD -
Nancy Venneman
Board VP
Innovative Captive Strategies -
Bo Govea
Board Member
IMA Financial Group, Inc -
Kris Troy
Board Secretary
Owens & Minor -
Marielena Marroquin, MPA
Board Member
Cultura Consultants KC -
Michael Jensen
Board Treasurer
Grant Capital -
Stann Tate
Board Member Menorah Medical Center
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Brittany Duncan
Board Member
Dairy Farmers of America -
Mandy Owen
Board Member
HSI
Want to make a huge impact in the lives of those experiencing food insecurity? Join our Board.
Our Founding History
Emily Brown's lifestyle abruptly changed when her two young children were diagnosed with severe food allergies.
She went from carefree grocery shopping to reading every ingredient label on every food product she planned to purchase. She had to quit her day job to care for her daughters, since the daycare could not adequately provide safe, reliable services for their food allergies. This caused her financial standing to rapidly decline, and she found herself needing to enroll in federal assistance programs such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in order to feed her family of four.
In 2014, Emily decided to take matters into her own hands and founded Food Equality Initiative (FEI) to help families like hers gain access to free-from food.
FEI started the first food pantry in the United States specifically stocked with foods required to maintain a Top-8 allergen-free and/or celiac diet.
Since then, FEI has pivoted from the food pantry model to subsidizing a direct-to-door delivery service specifically for free-from foods, to further increase access and preserve the dignity of those needing assistance.
With the leadership of Erin Martinez, current CEO, Food Equality Initiative embraces the food is medicine movement, advocating for increased access to nutritious foods to improve the health of everyone, especially those with any diet-treated illness or condition. FEI also invests in spreading knowledge about the importance of nutrition security. Our goal is to find ways to best serve traditionally under-represented populations in healthcare, particularly along the lines of race and income – towards a greater state of health equity.
Our Impact
As we strive to make an impact on feeding the hungry, we are also making significant strides in increasing knowledge and raising awareness about food and nutrition insecurity in those with diet-treated illnesses.
Our 990s
FEI is proud to be named an inaugural United Way Impact 100 organization.