When Monique Acosta was first diagnosed with lymphoma cancer at the age of 50, the ability to feed and nourish her body entered a daily battle that was no match for the physical decline prompted by vital medicinal treatments.
Coupled with the complexities of gastroparesis, which lends to low-fiber intake and trouble digesting, the onset of cancer meant asking the pescetarian to reevaluate her nutritional wellness at a time where preparing meals wasn’t an option, let alone efficiently shopping for the proper groceries.
“[I] was like, ‘Well, what do I do with that?’ I don’t understand low fiber, bread and potatoes. I love salad. I love fresh fruit, vegetables, but those were things that were hurting me,” Acosta told The Informer.
So, when her social worker recommended she join the Food & Friends family, a nonprofit initiative that delivers medically-tailored meals to DMV residents with chronic illnesses, Acosta admitted she was pleasantly surprised by the “one-of-a-kind” service – from a dietary aspect, as much of a communal one.
“I know the mission is so much greater than [this], but they simplified it [to]: what do you need? And how can we meet that need?” said Acosta, now 52. “I see…day to day how the landscape is changing, and a lot of people are going to find themselves in need. I really believe that Food & Friends will be a safety net for them.”
Acosta’s story was highlighted on May 7 as the culinary organization hosted its 32nd Annual Chef’s Best Dinner & Auction at the Marriott Marquis hotel in Northwest, D.C.
The annual fundraiser welcomed thousands of esteemed guests, community leaders, and more than 30 of the region’s top chefs and mixologists to an evening showcasing creative cocktails, culinary treats and the importance of helping others.
What started out as a personal goal to support a friend suffering with AIDS has since blossomed into a regional effort that delivers 66 meals per day to thousands of neighbors battling life-changing illnesses.
Beyond taste-testing some of the DMV’s finest dining, the Chef’s Best Dinner amplifies another staple of the Food & Friends mission: to uplift and create an environment for learning and compassion.
Food & Friends Executive Director Carrie Stoltzfus beamed as she announced a record $700,000 in sponsor donations prior to the event’s live auction, which supported the organization’s goal of raising $1 million to deliver 1.7 million medically tailored meals this year.
Bidders rallied for exquisite packages including trips to Aruba, Colorado, Scottsdale, and more; while the silent auction and raffle invited guests to place bets on artwork, weekend getaways, and local dining, to name a few.
With the achieved funds, Stoltzfus said the Food & Friends village is hoping to surpass their original goal, planning to prepare and home-deliver 1.8 million meals to 5,500 community members.
Event emcee Erin Como lauded the organization’s push to shape local outreach.
“You don’t know what it means to give back, and that food is a universal language of connection. It’s something that brings us all together,” said Como, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, “and for over 30 years, Chef’s Best has been the place where Washington gathers to celebrate that connection by coming together and breaking ground.”
Food & Friends Represents More Than Medicinal Meals
Another way the organization is spearheading positive impact is through its Young Professionals Board (YPB), a growing group of ambassadors and fundraisers looking to connect with other young individuals interested in community service and networking.
While YPB amplifies the Food & Friends mission year-round, fellow board member Zach Bache attributes the Chef’s Best annual tipoff as a crucial example of leveraging a shared goal to serve a broader impact, potentially beyond D.C.
“Some people might not know that this is a resource they might need in the future, or currently. You’d also see, maybe not this organization, but something similar to this could make an impact in someone’s life that you probably do know,” Bache explained to The Informer. “You should always try to expand how much you can give back.”
Acosta, who was well enough to cease services with the program a little under a year ago, reflected on the well-rounded, wholesome approach that working with Food & Friends offered her, placing an emphasis on the importance of exposing individuals without these illnesses to the realities of living with them.
“I really think people who feel like they may not ever need a service should always try to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. At any time, your life can change…and these things that come up, they affect everyone,” Acosta told The Informer.
She shared the positive effect Food & Friends has had in her life beyond providing nourishment.
“To be a beneficiary of an organization, so now I can go back and serve people,” Acosta continued, “it has a ripple effect.”
As the organization looks forward to reaching more crowds and larger milestones, Stoltzfus touted immense gratitude and recognition for the communal effort that has driven a commitment to transforming lives, one nutritious act at a time.
“Food & Friends enters people’s lives in moments of uncertainty, fear, and sometimes despair. [We] make a promise to our clients that no matter what they go through, we’ll always be there,” Stoltzfus said to the crowd on May 7. “You are why we’re able to honor that promise.”
