Friday, February 12 is Hunger Action Day in Washington State, an opportunity for organizations like Lifelong to talk about access to healthy food with elected officials.
“We amplify the voices of our clients who are often unable to share their concerns directly with key stakeholders,” explains Caila Nickerson, MSW, Lifelong’s Director of Food & Nutrition Programs. “When our clients tell us that they don’t have enough healthy food, we have the obligation to deliver that message to our legislators.”
Lifelong’s food and nutrition program, Chicken Soup Brigade, works a bit differently than other food banks. While the majority of food banks operate by accepting and providing food that is safe and available to their clients, we know food is medicine and thus are more discerning with what foods we provide to our clients living with and at-risk for serious and life-threatening illnesses.
In the past year, we have expanded our food and nutrition policies that prioritize our clients’ health and have chosen to only give them nutritious food that will help make them better.
“Our registered dietitian nutritionists work really hard with our kitchen team to make sure our meals are nutritious and have the right balance of macronutrients so we can provide people who have various health conditions what they need to support their health,” says Dana Cordy, MPH, RD, LD, Lifelong’s Manager of Nutrition & Client Services. “We don’t just distribute food, we also educate our clients so they know how to grocery shop and make food on their own. People know our food is nutritious and medically tailored, and the education piece is so critical in helping people change their lifestyle to improve their overall health.”
Nellie, a Chicken Soup Brigade client, recently sent us a note to show her appreciation for our program. When she first came to Lifelong, she was living with diabetes and had lost her sister to diabetes, but Nellie wanted to make a change so she could live a long, healthy life. “I have learned a lot about food that I was never aware of and I am eating food that is actually good for me. I want to thank Chicken Soup Brigade for teaching me how to eat healthy and my family wants to especially thank you as well.”
Lifelong also prioritizes access to culturally-appropriate nutrition, food that is tailored to clients’ backgrounds. In King County, one out of four people is foreign born and it is important for us to bring nutrition and culture together.
“It’s been so fulfilling to connect with a more diverse community as we expand access to culturally-specific nutritious food,” says Dave McKillip, Chicken Soup Brigade Warehouse Manager. “We can find common ground with people who don't even speak the same language as us. We can all connect through food—it’s a basic language that brings people together.”
This Hunger Action Day, you can join us and help expand access to healthy food. Here are a few ways to get involved:
Sponsor a day’s worth of medically-tailored meals or nutritious grocery bags to give your neighbors the nutritious food they rely on to support their health
Volunteer with us and help make meals or put together grocery bags
Sign up for Pots and Plans, our free nutrition and cooking class series
Call your representatives and be an advocate for advancing access to nutritious food