Our Mission

We are a non-profit organization based in Salem, Oregon that seeks to positively impact the eating habits of individuals in our community who have been diagnosed with chronic medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. Our programs are currently open to all eligible persons living in Marion County and Polk County in Oregon, USA. 

Therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC), including a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress management are important elements for treatment for these medical conditions. Unfortunately, many individuals in our community with these conditions do not have the necessary food literacy, and/or the financial or logistic means to access healthy food choices, which negatively impacts their health and leads to progression of these medical conditions. Their over-reliance on cheap, calorie-dense but nutrient-poor, processed foods and junk/fast foods, is a major barrier for such individuals to comply with the dietary TLC recommendations made by their healthcare providers.

We have developed a unique program for our members who receive incentives to use towards the purchase of healthy foods (fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy, etc.) as recommended by dietary guidelines published by the latest dietary guidelines from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), as well as medical professional organizations such as the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietitics. We also provide educational resources to improve food and healthcare literacy for our members and offer inspiration and support to help our members make and maintain positive lifestyle changes for the long-term.