Nutrition Program for Individuals and Families

Client Story

“Community Servings came into our lives at a time when we truly needed help. Financially and physically, I was struggling. Sometimes during my treatments, I wouldn’t even be able to get up. I wasn’t sure how my girls were going to eat. There was a time in my life when I didn’t know how to ask for help, but I am so grateful that we found Community Servings and for everything they have been able to do for us. Every Monday, it feels good to fill my refrigerator. The meals take so much stress off and they have truly become a part of our lifestyle. It is a symbol of all good things and I could not be more thankful.”                                    
                 --Sherys is a single mother of three who received a diagnosis of breast cancer in 2011.

Over the past year Community Servings prepared, packaged, and delivered 495,000 medically tailored lunches and dinners to 1,516 men, women and children in our program affected by a critical illness.  Our service area spans 300 square miles in Massachusetts.  Through our nutrition program we also provided 3,334 hours of nutrition education to 1,800 individuals affected by critical or chronic disease.  We work hard to serve Massachusetts’ historically disadvantaged populations. Approximately 92% of our clients live in poverty and 67% are from communities of color. Our client data also shows that:

• Our clients currently are battling more than 35 different life-threatening illnesses;
• Families receive more than 50% of our meals;
• Our clients range in age from 1 to 89 years, with the average age of 46
• 23% of our clients speak English as a second language;
• Our clients live in every Boston neighborhood, and the 19 nearby cities and towns of Braintree, Brockton, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Fitchburg, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Medford, Quincy, Randolph, Revere, Somerville, Weymouth, Winthrop and Worcester.

In 2015 we published, “This is the Voice of Hunger & Critical Illness,” profiling 11 Community Servings’ clients such as Lisa's story below.  This document highlights the health and psychosocial impacts of our medically-tailored nutrition program.  

At 30, Lisa was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis in Quincy. “I was 137 pounds. I now weigh 110 pounds due to muscle wasting. I am extremely bony and thin but I still have an appetite. The food is good for me because I went from not eating to having three meals available to me each day. We couldn’t, at the same time, care for my physical needs and do all that is required to prepare nutritious meals.”

Links:

• Community Servings Website
• Voices of Hunger and Critical Illness Video