Your FAQ's Answered!

Co-Founder Joy D'Ovidio Training Volunteers at Her Home in San Francisco

The A Meal With Dignity model is a culmination of our Co-Founder Joy D'Ovidio's 30-plus years of making food for the unhoused. Because the majority of those who are houseless suffer from at least one chronic condition, the quality of ingredients and preparation is important. It is also important to be prepared for delivery. The more we can work together to nourish those in need, the more we can heal our communities.

No need to reinvent the wheel, we have the answers to our FAQs so you can make your own meals with dignity!

Why use a brioche bun or other soft bread for the sandwiches? Why softer fruits? 
Many houseless and unsheltered have issues accessing dental services and therefore have a lot of issues with their teeth. To prevent discomfort we highly recommend using soft bread when making your sandwiches. We also recommend the fruit you include is soft, ripe, and fresh. A banana is an excellent option. Consider adding a seasonal fruit in addition to a banana for extra nutrition.

Why avoid whole wheat and other hearty grain breads? 
Our health advisor Dr. Adrian Aurrecoechea highly recommends we avoid using hearty/whole wheat/whole grain bread due to gastro-intestinal issues that the houseless and unsheltered face. When the houselesss and unsheltered have various ailments we want to be extra cautious to avoid any additional burden on their body.

Why fresh and organic produce and ingredients? Won't our unsheltered neighbors appreciate anything we give them? 
Food can be medicine. If you want to treat someone who is ill, you give them things that will make them well. The food we ingest and give to others should help us recover and feel better. The unsheltered have some resources for food, however, there are very few resources for healthy and nutritious food. We go out of our way to bring fresh and healthy food to begin the long process of recovery. Help be an advocate for improving the lives of those in our communities.

What about preparing and delivering hot meals or meat? 
Food safety is a top priority. Many ingredients such as meat and egg products carry food born illness when eaten at the incorrect temperature. Unhoused folks usually do not have refrigeration or ways to reheat foods, so it is important to reduce any risk of exposure to illness-inducing bacteria. That's why we recommend cold-prep vegetarian meals. 

I'm worried about the risk. Is there danger in interacting with the unsheltered? 
When you meet someone in need and present them with something beautifully prepared and packaged in a sanitary and legitimate way - such as the handled bag we suggest and the meal we suggest - the person is grateful. While we do recommend volunteers sign a waiver and as with any human interaction there can be a measure of risk, in over 25 years of feeding the homeless - Joy has never had an incident. Additionally, our volunteers have never had an incident and have been met with so much gratitude and love.

Donate a Lunch

AMWD Lunch = Sandwich, 2 Bottled Water, Fresh Cookie, Soft Fruit

What you'll need:

You can buy lunch for a neighbor in need!
1 fresh, organic, sustainable lunch= $10.
Click the button below!

Volunteers in Boulder, Sausalito, & San Francisco

Our wish is to inspire others to feed their neighbors experiencing homelessness. A Meal With Dignity is one way to make a difference, connecting and offering gestures of healing within our communities. We hope you can join us!

Other ways to get involved? Share our organization with your workplace Corporate Social Responsibility or Office Manager!

With deep gratitude and respect,

Casey Hagerman
Executive Director
A Meal With Dignity
outreach@amealwithdignity.org
https://amealwithdignity.org

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The Meal-Making Toolkit

David Rutan