Deliver Meals to People with Serious Illness in LA

During our first quarter in FY16-17, with your support, Project Chicken Soup prepared and delivered 5,000 delicious, nutritious meals – food as medicine - to our clients in Los Angeles County living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses. We are sincerely grateful for your generous donations in the first few months of our campaign!

The letter below is from a PCS client and illustrates the impact your support has on the people we serve:

 “This past June marked the sixth year I've been a Project Chicken Soup client.

The anniversary would have gone unnoticed, it's significance missed, and the positive effect Project Chicken Soup has had on my life glossed over - if not for the fact that last week I called them to say that it was time I relinquished my space. So what started out as a simple one or two minute conversation to say good-by and thank you - evolved into something more significant ... not in terms of minutes, but in terms of the gratitude I felt.

I was 48yrs old when the world I knew fell apart because I'd been diagnosed with a catastrophic illness.  I went from being a productive accomplished working member of the community to someone who now relies on Section 8, SSDI, Medicare Medical, as well as the love of a few good friends to just get by.

Chicken Soup became one of those friends. It was a life-line when I needed one.  It was also the sound of a voice that conveyed a feeling that they could help improve my quality of life. And they did just that ...

Project Chicken Soup provided more than tasty soups, chicken and salads.  With each delivery, they quietly and persistently laid the groundwork I needed in order to feel secure.  How did it do that ...?  It wasn't a complicated theory derived from years of research.  This was an idea that only a Grandmother could provide.  When you open the fridge and there's food - you feel good.  You feel safe.  You feel secure.

You can't get anymore basic then that ....

I didn't wish for this illness, nor did I sit down and say: Hey, wouldn't it be wonderful to be without .... But there I was and now here I am. So I understand just how difficult it is to live in a world filled with a heightened sense of uncertainty and dread; in addition to the fear of going without. And or those who once had but now find themselves on the other side ... those feelings run deep - and as a result -- not everyone makes it out. Fortunately, I developed an iron spine and regardless of ups and downs I experience or the number of forms and applications I have to fill out - there is one truth -- I'm back to living a productive life.

I also know one other truth:  Project Chicken Soup, from Mollie and Cathryn - to the volunteer cooks and drivers who deliver the food have been a corner stone in my rehabilitation and growth and for that - I will be forever grateful.

That said I'd like to finish with one last thought.  PCS was created out of nothing but desire, compassion and the will to create a positive lasting effect on the lives of those in need.” (From A PCS Client)

We are sad to report that last month, we unexpectedly lost access to the kitchen we were using. The primary tenant, (another local nonprofit food program), needed to make operational changes to comply with new federal regulations. Due to the required changes, they regretfully informed us that effective immediately, PCS could no longer cook in the that kitchen.

When we learned that we’d lost access to the kitchen, our immediate concern was our clients. I spoke with several local home delivered meal programs, and arranged for expedited temporary enrollment (and, in some cases, waiving of eligibility guidelines) of all PCS clients in alternative programs while we searched for a new cooking space. I spoke with all PCS clients, giving them explicit information about the arrangements I’d made with the other programs,

We were saddened that we could not prepare and deliver our annual Thanksgiving meals to our clients. Fortunately, I mailed invitations to PCS clients for a Thanksgiving Lunch hosted by a community partner, and I sent tickets to many clients who RSVP’d. PCS clients who were unable to attend this event received Thanksgiving meals from the local programs in which they’d enrolled.

PCS clients were also the beneficiaries of beautiful Thanksgiving decorations created by members of the community. I did a special mailing to clients before the holiday and everyone received the festive holiday decorations, knowing that while we currently are not able to send meals, they remain in our hearts and minds.

Since we are not able to cook our annual winter holiday meals, we are mailing Trader Joe’s gift cards to each client so they can purchase healthy, prepared meals for their holiday.

I’ve been researching/visiting commercial kitchens, speaking with community partners and following up on leads provided to me by PCS donors, volunteers and clients. Change is not easy, so we’re being careful with this kitchen search to ensure that the next move to a new cooking space is the right one, and provides PCS with a sustainable and secure future.

And finally, we continue to work in earnest on fund development. We need to be ready to resume operations and have the revenue in place to support future cookings, including kitchen rent in a new space.

We are truly grateful for your support, and wish you a Happy Holiday and Happy and Healthy New Year.

Warm regards,

Cathryn Friedman, PCS Executive Director