Sarah is a 38 year old woman with Lupus, a chronic (lifelong) autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the body's own tissue and organs. She currently needs a liver transplant and has severe fatigue. She has been hospitalized three times in the last three months. She lives in Winthrop with her husband, 6 year old daughter and 4 year old son. As Sarah has stated, Community Servings meals help her devote the little energy she has to spending time with her children, rather than cooking and preparing meals.
Jasper is 47 and is currently in the hospital. He lives alone and has been too tired to shop and cook for himself because of dialysis treatments. As a result, he has been eating highly processed, high-sodium foods that exacerbate his kidney failure and diabetes. Jasper will begin receiving meals from Community Servings upon his release from the hospital. This will enable him to continue with treatment while ensuring that his nutritional well-being and health improve.
Martha has stage 3 breast cancer and renal failure. Martha is our first breast cancer client and has been with us since February 2004. She is a 53 year old African American woman living in Mattapan with her three children ages 16, 15 and 10. When she first joined our meals service, she had lost 30 pounds in the previous few months. She was often fatigued and would not eat. When she did eat, she reported eating very little. For example, she would have peaches for dinner. Martha is unable to work due to her illness and supports her family on her monthly Social Security check. Martha is served a special renal, bland diet and her three children receive regular meals.