Who Can Visit?
Food Outreach serves people who have a confirmed diagnosis of HIV or are in active treatment for cancer. You must also live at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level to receive services at no cost. A referral from a healthcare professional (such as a physician, nurse, registered dietitian, social worker, or community health worker) is required to confirm your diagnosis.
HIV clients must be taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) medication. Cancer clients must be in active treatment such as chemotherapy, radiation, or have a scheduled upcoming surgery.
How to Register?
There are two ways to get started:
- Ask a member of your care team to submit a referral using the online provider referral form. You can also download and fax the HIV referral form or cancer referral form to (866) 737-9858.
- Submit a self-referral form directly on their website.
Once a referral is received, a Food Outreach team member will reach out within 5 business days to schedule an intake appointment. All new clients must meet with a Registered Dietitian (either in person or by phone) before enrolling. This appointment covers an introduction to the programs and a nutrition assessment. You can also call the Intake Coordinator, Rusoun Belue, at 314.710.5543 to make an appointment.
Items Needed for Registration
Bring a photo ID when you come to pick up food.
How Often You Can Visit?
Clients can order groceries and frozen Medically Tailored Meals on a monthly or biweekly basis. The frequency is decided during your intake appointment with a Registered Dietitian. Food Outreach provides an average of up to 2 meals per day to each client.
HIV clients can remain in the program for as long as they need services and continue to meet the income guidelines. Cancer clients are eligible for 12 months of service, after which a Registered Dietitian will reassess their eligibility in six-month increments.
Good to Know
Food Outreach provides food only to the diagnosed individual, not to other family members. Clients can expect to receive up to 2 meals per day. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before closing to allow enough time to fill your order. A friend, family member, caregiver, or case manager can pick up your food on your behalf. Bringing your own grocery bags or boxes earns you an entry in a monthly raffle for a $25 grocery store gift card.
Food & Essentials
Food Outreach offers Medically Tailored Meals and groceries designed to support each client's health. Grocery items include fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen meat, and pantry staples such as canned fruits and vegetables, oats, beans, rice, and pasta. Scratch-prepared entrees and sides featuring chicken, pork, fish, and beef are cooked in the on-site commercial kitchen and then flash-frozen for easy reheating at home in a microwave. The menu is updated every two weeks and is designed to be heart-healthy and blood-sugar-friendly.
Dietitians take note of dietary restrictions and can provide specialized options such as a diabetes box, vegetarian box, or no-beef/no-pork box. All services are free of charge.
How to Pick Up
Most clients pick up their orders at the Midtown Nutrition Center at 3117 Olive Street. There's a parking lot on site, with additional street parking on Olive. When you arrive, check in at the front desk with a photo ID and receive a menu of current offerings. After making your selections, turn in the menu and volunteers will gather your items. You'll be called to the counter to bag everything up. Carts and volunteers are available to help carry food to your vehicle.
Additional Support
Clients who can't come in due to illness, lack of transportation, or inability to drive can receive home delivery. Van drivers deliver up to 60 meals (two meals per day) every month to homebound clients within a 35-mile radius of the Midtown location. Note that home delivery uses a preselected menu rather than client choice. To learn more, contact Luke Gallagher, Client Services Manager, at (314) 710-5542.
Food Outreach also has Registered Dietitians available Monday through Friday to provide personalized nutrition counseling. Each client gets a comprehensive nutrition assessment at intake and can continue meeting with a dietitian for individualized guidance on managing health and dietary needs throughout treatment. In addition, the organization offers nutrition education resources including webinars and monthly presentations on topics like food allergies, hydration, heart health, and grocery budgeting.
Ways to Give
Food Outreach welcomes both food and monetary donations. Accepted food items include canned vegetables (peas, corn, green beans, diced tomatoes), low-sugar canned fruits (pineapple, peaches, applesauce), dry beans, grains (rice, pasta, oats, egg noodles), low-sodium soups, cereals, and healthy oils. Non-food items accepted include hygiene products (soap, shampoo, facial wipes), adult incontinence supplies, nutritional supports like Ensure or Boost, can openers, and clean microwaves. The organization does not accept cooked food, expired items, dented cans, medications, baby items, or nutritional supplements.
Food donations can be dropped off during regular business hours at 3117 Olive Street. For monetary donations, visit the donate page. For bulk in-kind product donations (canned food, frozen proteins, or fresh produce), contact Joel Carter at joel@foodoutreach.org or (314) 710-5538.
How to Join the Team?
Volunteers are essential to Food Outreach's mission. Opportunities include packing grocery orders in the Nutrition Center (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays), cooking and packing scratch-prepared meals on Saturday mornings, assembling home delivery boxes (Mondays), assisting the chef with cooking (Wednesdays and Fridays), and helping at special events. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old.
To sign up, register online at the volunteer website. For questions, contact Joel Carter at (314) 710-5538 or joel@foodoutreach.org.
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