Internationally, Community Servings is a founding member of the Association of Nutrition Services Agencies (ANSA), an alliance of more than 85 nonprofit organizations working on behalf of the acutely ill. The association began in 1994 with a small gathering of US programs feeding people with HIV/AIDS, interested in sharing ideas and best practices. Over the past 15 years this spirit of collaboration has continued, with organizations around the world sharing their successes and challenges in the field of nutrition for the critically ill. The association hosts an annual international conference, provides a rich array of web-based technical assistance to communities eager to start or expand a nutrition program, and now supports local agencies interested in offering their expertise in HIV nutrition to sister programs in southern Africa. ANSA is also leading our national advocacy efforts to secure new federal funds to support nutrition for the critically and chronically ill across America.
Community Servings' participation in ANSA has proven instrumental to our refinement of an effective, efficient delivery system and the creation of an innovative array of client services. Our success in program development, fundraising and marketing are shared with our colleagues from around the world, and our own programs are enriched by the ideas and insights of our national and international partners. Indeed, we are proud to see our own signature Thanksgiving pie sale, Pie in the Sky, replicated in cities around the US and Canada to support home-based nutrition for sick neighbors. David Waters, our CEO, is past chairman of ANSA's board of directors and has served on the association's board and committees for 12 years.