We Are More Than a Food Pantry
“The prescription for the cure rests with the accurate diagnosis of the disease.”
When I started Food Equality Initiative nearly six years ago, it was an effort to improve the quality of life for my family and community. I am proud of the work we have accomplished together with partners to provide direct pantry services to families experiencing food insecurity and food allergies. At our core, we are committed to health equity and finding a solution to a critical challenge in the management of food allergies and celiac disease.
Access to safe and healthy foods.
While new treatments are emerging, the prevailing standard of care, food avoidance, remains the only option available for many patients. As such, access to safe and healthy food is not only a matter of sustenance, but rather a matter of treatment.
That is why I am proud to announce today a bold commitment for supporting ALL patients with food allergies and celiac disease with access to the foods they need to manage their health and wellness.
The big announcement? We are not a pantry!
Much of our identity in the first five years of our existence has focused on the model in which we have distributed food, the free-from pantry. However, we have always been so much more. With a focus on food policy beyond the label, we are a national leader in the food as medicine movement. Together with our partners, we are building a future where all patients have consistent access to the foods needed to adhere to their prescribed diets. Our humble beginnings in the pantry have reinforced our belief that when we rise above the status quo, and take care of the least among us, everyone wins.
Food avoidance makes access to the right foods not only a matter of sustenance, but also a matter of treatment.