Food & Friends Celebrates 15 Years of Partnership with AVON Foundation

By Craig Shniderman, Executive Director of Food & Friends

15 years ago, Food & Friends had no corporate or foundation funder of our newly established breast cancer services. The AVON Foundation took a chance on us and our new initiative. A $50,000 grant in 2001, which, 15 successive grants later, has now turned into a $4.3 million investment, 1.6 million meals, and over 2,000 lives changed. We are so glad that AVON’s support for our program has in more recent years been expanded to the Foundation’s support of similar programs in other major metropolitan areas. 

Many breast cancer survivors are women with children. Through our Pink Ribbon Delivery Service, funded by the AVON Foundation, we provide meals not only for the survivor, but also for household members– her partner, spouse, or children. This wicked illness devastates families as well as individuals, so we’re proud that we can provide for the family unit as a whole.

Food & Friends has partnered with the AVON Foundation for 15 years and for 13 AVON39 walks. This year I cheered the walkers in my drag cheerleader persona, Miss Ivanna Beat Breast Cancer.  As the walkers trudged through rain and gloomy conditions, I reflected on the continued success of the AVON39. Many “thon” events have a life span that eventually leads to diminished interest, but with AVON39, there is a passion for this cause that sustains the event’s success.

That’s not surprising because the incidence of breast cancer is undiminished. While the mortality rate from breast cancer, taken all together, has improved, people of color and of lower incomes fare far less well. And because the incidence remains high among all groups, there has been no turning away from this issue. And so two weekends ago we witnessed more than 2000 people raise a very large sum of money through their personal engagement.

Given our strong partnership with the AVON Foundation, it’s important for Food & Friends to show our commitment to this event and play a unique role. In addition to providing our famous cookies and a delicious lunch for the walkers, Food & Friends fields a support team. In years when I’m not participating as a walker, I don my cheerleader attire and theatrical makeup to join in cheering on the walkers as a member of the support team. 

My participation in drag is the means by which I express my solidarity with these remarkable fundraisers and the women who face this terrible illness. (I’ll add that about one percent of breast cancer patients are men.) I certainly also understand the immediacy of this issue as a man with a wife and four children. Though my drag presence is amusing, I am deeply aware that there is no humor in this disease.   

Our world at Food & Friends is a world of gratitude. We have 9,000 volunteers and we’re grateful to them. We have thousands of donors, and we’re certainly grateful to them also. But among our funders, the AVON Foundation has a unique place in our history.  The Foundation’s gifts include the $750,000 grant that built our kitchen, which not only serves people with breast cancer, but people with HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses. This was AVON’s gift not only to our breast cancer survivors, but to every client who receives meals from the AVON Foundation kitchen. It’s a generous, inclusive gift and I’ll always be grateful to AVON because when no one else was there, they were. And not only that, they’ve remained there for 15 years. That’s a lot of friendship.

 

You Make the Words "Dinner is Ready" a Reality for Our Clients

It was like clockwork. Every day after Mikaelle and Sir finished their homework, they would anxiously wait for their mom, Crystal, to fill their plates with a delicious meal. On days that they had mom’s pizza or spaghetti, the words “dinner is ready” never sounded so good.

Food & Friends home delivers meals to breast cancer client, Crystal,
and her two children, Mikaelle and Sir.

This dinner routine changed drastically in April 2013 after Crystal was diagnosed with breast cancer. Crystal, who loves to cook and considers herself “a foodie”, was now undergoing harsh radiation. Her daily routine included traveling to receive treatment in the morning which often made her too fatigued to make dinner. Crystal feared that while she underwent treatment, she would not be able to feed her children – or herself. It’s a horrific thought and any parent’s worst nightmare.

“I would sacrifice and do whatever it takes to provide for my kids,” says Crystal.

Food & Friends made sure this wasn’t the case. Despite her health challenges, Crystal has managed to put food on the table, just with a little help. Although her treatment leaves her tired and weak, she is able to heat up a quick meal delivered by Food & Friends that gives her family a hearty dinner keeping them full and healthy.

“The dinners are great and nutritious,” says Crystal. “It’s convenient and easy for me, especially dinner. I just microwave the meals if I want my kids to have a cooked meal.”

In the few months that Crystal has been on service, she has been impressed with the service and extremely grateful for the volunteers that prepare and deliver the food. With this little bit of help, you allow Crystal to focus on her fight against breast cancer.

Although she doesn’t make spaghetti and pizza as often, Crystal is confident that her family is taken care of. Thanks to you, the phrase “dinner is ready” is still just as exciting for Mikaelle and Sir as it used to be.

Thanks for 1 Million Meals!

2013 is a year of milestones for Food & Friends – in addition to commemorating 25 years of service to the greater DC community, we recently delivered our 1 millionth meal to a client living with breast cancer. We share this benchmark with our friends and partners whose support and commitment to those seriously ill and in need makes these achievements possible.

Food & Friends staff members participating in the 2013 Avon Walk

Since 2001, the Avon Foundation for Women has contributed over $4 million to our Pink Ribbon Delivery Program which provides our home-delivered meals to women, men and their family members living with breast cancer. And with their support this year, the Pink Ribbon Delivery Program will deliver nearly 200,000 meals to more than 500 people living with breast cancer.

Food & Friends’ staff and volunteers regularly participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer as walkers and cheerleaders along the 39.3 mile-long route. We shared our millionth meal milestone with the Avon Foundation during this year’s walk when we presented an award to Carol Kurzig, the Foundation’s president. And in appreciation of 12 year partnership and 1 million meals delivered to people living with breast cancer, we share the video below.

Pom Poms to Pavement: Dietitian Shares Tips for Avon Walkers

Food & Friends has been participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer since 2001. Each year we send dozens of people (including a drag queen named Ivanna BeatBreastCancer) to cheer on the walkers, provide a delicious lunch on Sunday, and hand out our home-made cookies along the route. Last year, a group of my coworkers and I spent the day clapping and encouraging walkers – this year, we are going to be on the receiving end.

Dietitian Brandy Love cheering on
walkers at last year's Avon Walk

As I pull on my t-shirt, warm-up jacket, and hoodie, I’m getting ready for battle. It’s me versus the asphalt. The weather is neither friend nor foe; it is motivation for me to move faster! Sure I could jump on the treadmill, but 8 miles on a hamster wheel might drive me a little batty. In less than a month, we will be walking 39 miles in the fight against breast cancer and I’ll be ready. If you would have told me in January I would walk from Northern Virginia to the Capital Building, I would have shaken my head in disbelief. Well, here I am a few weeks before the Avon Walk and I’ve logged more than 120 miles of training. As we get ready to make a difference in the lives of people fighting breast cancer, I’d like to share a few things I’ve learned in these last few weeks of training:

1. Apps are where it’s at. Want to keep track of your mileage? There’s an app (actually hundreds) for that. I’ve used MapMyWalk, Fit Run, and several others to track my distance. These apps record your average speed, distance, and calories burned while walking. They email you a weekly summary of your progress, not to mention the option to share your workout summaries via Facebook and Twitter. Now that’s a surefire way to get a little friendly competition going amongst friends!
2. There’s strength in numbers. Having a walking buddy makes it easier on those “I’d rather be on the couch” days. Meeting a co-worker along the trail motivated me to pick up the pace a bit just to see who could arrive first. I also use walking as a time to catch up with friends & family. Who knew strolling down memory lane with grandma would get me through my last 4 miles?
3. Variety is the spice of life. Varying my walking routine is a great way to avoid getting bored or discouraged. Some days I venture into DC, other days I glide through Old Town and I’ve even circled around Arlington Cemetery. The key has been to find a way to stay engaged and motivated to train. There’s nothing like walking along the Potomac to clear your mind. Try it!
4. Pack a snack. When I leave hungry, I stay hungry so I grab fruit, a cheese stick, or PB&J before heading out the door. For longer walks, I pack trail mix, nuts, or something small and easy-to-eat while walking.
5. Water is your weapon. Drinking water fights dehydration, muscle fatigue, & sore joints. Did you know in 1 hour of exercise, your body can lose more than a quart of water? I have a hydration belt I find very useful on my longer walk days. For the days I feel like that will be too heavy or I’m not walking as far, I have a small hand held water bottle with an adjustable hand strap and thumbhole that keeps the mini 10 oz bottle in place without having to grip it. Whichever option works best, don’t head out without a little H20. 

It hasn't been easy, but training has definitely been worth it. The Avon Walk is right around the corner and I know we can do it! Come out and cheer us on May 4th-5th or, better yet, sign up to join the walk!

Brandy Love, RD, LDN is a Community Dietitian at Food & Friends. She received a Bachelor of Science in Food Science & Human Nutrition at the University of Hawaii and completed her dietetic training through the Mayo School of Health Sciences. In addition to counseling clients, Brandy teaches CHEW (Cooking Healthy to Eat & Win), a 2-hour cooking class for Food & Friends clients. 

American Dream Deferred by Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Though we've made significant strides combating this devastating illness, thousands will be diagnosed this year - many of them in our community. Food & Friends is committed to supporting individuals living with breast cancer. We are grateful for your support and partnerships with organizations like The Avon Foundation for Women who help make services for people like Ana Posada possible. Ana is a loving grandmother of 4 whose biggest dream is to watch her grandchildren grow up. Breast cancer tried to end this dream but, with the help of her family and Food & Friends, she's still going strong.

Ana Posada became an American citizen over a year ago. She was proud to be at a point in her life where she could build a better life for herself and her family. That was until one day when she felt extreme pain in her abdomen and chest. Thinking that it was nothing serious, Ana didn’t go to the doctor. But, after a few days the pain became so unbearable that she could barely move. Finally, Ana’s daughter insisted she go to the hospital.

Food & Friends' delivered meals help Ana
fight breast cancer.

Ana heard her diagnosis with disbelief and fear – it was breast cancer. How could she have cancer? How was she going to pay for treatment without insurance? The doctors kindly assured her they could remove the tumors that were growing inside her body. They also promised to connect her to social service organizations that could help pay for the extensive procedures.

Within a matter of weeks, Ana was able to get the surgery she needed and, once home, she began receiving meals from Food & Friends. “It made me so happy. I was not alone,” says Ana. “Love is all around, because there were so many people helping me.”

While going through chemotherapy treatments, Ana stays with her daughter and grandchildren. Not being able to work, Ana spends her day taking care of her grandchildren. The meals Ana receives are not only providing much-needed nutrition, but they ease the burden on her family.

“I am in too much pain to work. Food & Friends meals make it easier on me and my family – without it, I would have to depend on them a lot more.”

Ana's family has supported her through her battle
with cancer.

As Ana continues fighting breast cancer, she is very thankful to have the support of her family and community. And, thanks to organizations like Food & Friends, Ana is living the true American dream – watching her loved ones live a better life.

“I am so grateful and feel like a brand new woman,” says Ana with tears in her eyes. “I am very happy because I will be able to watch all of my grandchildren grow up.”

A Step in the Right Direction: Food & Friends Supports Those Fighting Breast Cancer

When I think of our commitment to clients living with breast cancer, I first think of our beginning as an AIDS service organization. Food & Friends was founded twenty-four years ago as a response to the needs of men and women battling AIDS. Too often, they were alone. Too often, their needs were unmet. Too often, the community looked away. We began with AIDS. Twelve years ago, we served our first clients living with breast cancer and ten years ago, we participated in our first Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

Food & Friends staff member, Pam Giller, and
Executive Director, Craig Shniderman accept
gift from Avon Foundation during 2012 Walk.

The Avon Foundation has been a dedicated supporter of Food & Friends. In 2001, they made it possible for us to create the Pink Ribbon Delivery Program. This year, thanks to their generosity, Food & Friends will deliver 178,000 specialized meals to nearly 500 women living with breast cancer and their loved ones.

Everyone has a personal reason for participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. It may be a sister, mother, brother or even yourself. This Saturday, I’ll do my tenth walk in support of our work supporting the nutritional needs of survivors and future survivors. When we are all out walking together, we are walking toward the same goal. Those affected by this disease are not alone because Food & Friends will never look away and we will never neglect to serve these men and women and those who care about them. It is our legacy and our future all wrapped together.

Ivanna Beat Breast Cancer
(aka. Craig Shniderman) cheering on
Avon Walkers

We are very proud to be a beneficiary of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and we look forward to greeting the walkers along the route. Food & Friends staff and volunteers will be handing out stickers and our famous chocolate chip cookies on Saturday and Sunday,and our kitchen will be providing an incredible lunch on Sunday afternoon.

I will be attending the walk on Saturday as my alter-ego, Miss Ivanna Beat Breast Cancer. The picture should be enough of an explanation. Be sure to come say hi!

See you on the road!!

Craig Shniderman
Executive Director