Food is Medicine
Access to a nutritious meal shouldn't be a worry for people with cancer, HIV/AIDS, kidney or heart disease, and other serious illnesses. But many who are ill find themselves with little to eat. Some are unable to cook. Others find they must choose between food and medicine to make ends meet. And going without the healthy food their bodies need can mean spending more time in the hospital, spending more money on health care, and facing worse health outcomes.
That's why, with help from thousands of community members, Project Angel Heart prepares and delivers delicious, medically tailored meals--free of charge--to Coloradans coping with life-threatening illness. Our meals are designed to improve their quality of life and the effectiveness of their medical treatments.
"I love the meals. I feel like I'm eating healthy. If I was left to my own devices, I wouldn't be eating like this. I had to increase my vitamin D and protein [for my treatments], so this has really helped." -Roberta, 53, living with breast cancer
Fast Facts
- Each week, we prepare and deliver nutritious meals for more than 1,200 individuals in Denver and Colorado Springs. In total, we will deliver meals to more than 3,000 neighbors in need in 2019.
- The people who receive our meals are Coloradans living with cancer, HIV/AIDS, kidney/heart/lung disease, and other life-threatening illnesses.
- Project Angel Heart's meals are made from scratch using fresh ingredients. Our registered dietitian reviews menus to ensure they complement each individual's medical treatment plan, and our chefs modify meals to accommodate for clients' allergies, religious preferences, and texture needs.
- More than 9,100 volunteers give their time and talent to Project Angel Heart each year, and 18 percent of our food is donated.
- Volunteers drive 82,000+ miles per year, in their own vehicles, to deliver meals to clients.
Impact of Medically Tailored Meals
- 82 percent of Project Angel Heart clients have less stress
- 60 percent report they have more energy
- 72 percent are better able to afford their basic needs
- 70 percent can remain independent in their homes
- 72 percent have a better overall quality of life
About Project Angel Heart
WHAT WE DO
Project Angel Heart prepares and delivers nutritious, individually modified meals to more than 900 people each week with the support of donors and volunteers. Clients receive up to the equivalent of three nutritious meals per day.
WHO WE SERVE
We'll deliver made-from-scratch meals to nearly 2,350 men, women and children in Denver and Colorado Springs this year. The most common diseases reported by our clients include cancer, kidney failure, HIV/AIDS, lung disease and diabetes.
THE NEED
Proper nutrition is vitally important for those battling illness. For example, 20 to 40 percent of cancer deaths are directly attributed to malnutrition and wasting. For our clients, food is medicine.
To learn more, visit the Project Angel Heart website or call 303-830-0202.