About Us

We believe in the astonishing power of food.

Our Mission

Our mission is to actively engage the community to provide scratch-made medically tailored meals to individuals and their families experiencing critical or chronic illness and nutrition insecurity. We commit, in all our programs and business practices, to prioritize racial and economic justice and health equity

Vision: We envision a world in which everyone has access to the nutritious food they need for health and wellbeing as a fundamental right.

Our History
In Their Words

If not for the Teaching Kitchen, I would probably be at home on the couch or in jail.

Teaching Kitchen trainee

In Their Words

This place has picked me up, polished me off, and I’m good to go.

Teaching Kitchen trainee, at graduation

In Their Words

My kids and I are so thankful and think of you every time we sit down to eat.

Single mom with multiple chronic illnesses

In Their Words

Before the meals, I didn’t have a way to make ends meet. I was so focused on my kids getting everything that they needed, that I wasn’t taking care of myself.

Single mom with HIV

In Their Words

Thank you so much for your healthy, nourishing food.  I deeply appreciate it.

Client with severe autoimmune disease who lives alone

In Their Words

Thank you, again, for having such a wonderful program. I really believe that it is this type of vocational training that really can help someone sustain recovery and make the transition from active addiction to a life in recovery. The confidence, skills, responsibility and new beginning that comes through this process is priceless.

Access to Recovery coordinator, a Teaching Kitchen referral partner

In Their Words

I want to thank you for the opportunity you all have given me volunteering at Community Servings. It has truly been an eye-opening experience for me and it has been uplifting to be a part of an organization that does so much good for people. There are not enough of you in the world.

Volunteer

In Their Words

Community Servings and their programs truly shine a light on humanity. There is some good in the world and I believe that Community Servings is the perfect example of this good.

Client with cancer

In Their Words

Since I’m diabetic, the meals really help me with portion sizes. I’m not eating too much, and I eat the right desserts. I’m losing weight too!

Single mom with HIV & Type 2 Diabetes

In Their Words

I already knew Community Servings because when I was healthy and working, I bought pies every year. But now as a client, the organization has been fantastic for me. It has really saved the day many times when I was ill.

Client with several chronic illnesses

In Their Words

This has been a wonderful, life-changing experience for me. This will put me back in the right place to get me back on my feet.

Teaching Kitchen trainee

In Their Words

Emotionally, the agency was there for me as well. I looked forward to the delivery drivers coming and taking the time to talk to me. Even when I was weak from my treatments, they would always brighten my day by offering words of encouragement.

Client with breast cancer

In Their Words

It was an honor, experiencing different ways to cook and I enjoyed being with the teachers in the kitchen, showing us how to cook. As I graduate from the Teaching Kitchen program, I’ve been to a couple of interviews for food prep and I’m hoping to work in a restaurant. That’s where I see myself working.

Teaching Kitchen trainee, at graduation

In Their Words

The process of making a meal: the thawing, cooking, and standing over the oven can be so tiring. The meals are truly able to lift stress off of my daily life.

Client with cancer & COPD

In Their Words

When I started, I started feeling really good about myself. I was helping people who couldn’t help themselves. It gave me confidence…Not everything I did in my life (before) was positive.

Teaching Kitchen graduate who works at The Kirkland Tap & Trotter

In Their Words

I would like to give a big thank you to Community Servings. I appreciate what they stand for and what they do for the community.

Teaching Kitchen trainee, at graduation

In Their Words

I receive a diabetic, low vitamin K diet. Because I can’t cook like I used to, the meals help me manage my nutritional needs and focus on taking care of myself.

Client with diabetes

In Their Words

These past months we became more than friends, we became family. I’m glad to have met all of you at Community Servings. You gave me another chance.

Teaching Kitchen trainee, at graduation

In Their Words

My grandmother, who is 87-years-old, receives food weekly from your service. As I was helping her put away the meals that were delivered to her, she expressed how very nice everyone is that delivers the meals to her. She raved about how very generous the program has been for her.

Client's granddaughter

In Their Words

I would like to thank Community Servings for the opportunity they gave to me to follow my passion. I’m so grateful for all the wonderful teachers who made me feel more confident.

Teaching Kitchen trainee, at graduation

In Their Words

Sometimes during my treatments, I wouldn’t even be able to get up. I wasn’t sure how my girls were going to eat. I was going through intense treatments of radiation and I didn’t even have the energy to take my children to school.

Single mom with breast cancer

In Their Words

I’m trying to change my diet. I’m pre-diabetic and am concerned with my sugar levels. I’ve spoken with the nutrition department and they informed me of things that I did not know before. I learned that vegetables have sugar and which ones would be healthiest for me to eat.

Client with HIV, Hepatitis C, and chronic pain

In Their Words

I truly believe it’s my calling. I enjoy going to work all the time. The food that I’m preparing is high-end, and it’s good.

Teaching Kitchen graduate who works at The Kirkland Tap & Trotter

In Their Words

Not only does Community Servings provide my grandmother with meals, I believe they provide her with some independence knowing she can warm up a meal herself and not depend on anyone to do it for her – it means more than you can imagine.

Client's granddaughter

In Their Words

The meals from Community Servings act as a safety net in my life. It warms my heart to have someone who doesn’t even know you do something so kind.

Client with several chronic illnesses

In Their Words

I learned a lot of things, like how to be patient – patient with food, patient with people.

Teaching Kitchen trainee, at graduation

In Their Words

We are able to look forward to having a variety of good meals every day, from wild rice to homemade soups to fresh, in-season vegetables like butternut squash and asparagus.

Client with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

In Their Words

This time last year, I was in a pretty bad place emotionally. I don’t know what I’d be doing if I wasn’t here, if I didn’t get into the Teaching Kitchen program. I just know leaving here now I’ve got ten more friends and a whole army of people here helping me out, and I just want to say thank you.

Teaching Kitchen trainee, at graduation

In Their Words

The meals are fantastic and my family members really appreciate it, knowing that I’m eating well. I’m feeling really good and the meals are satisfying, too.

Client with heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes, & COPD, who lives alone

Medically Tailored Meals for the Critically Ill

This year, we will provide over 875,000 meals to 4,000 critically ill individuals and their families. Our meals are made from scratch and medically tailored, meeting the medical and nutritional needs of our clients with HIV/AIDS, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, and other life-threatening illnesses.

Learn More

Nutrition Education & Counseling

Community Servings’ Registered Dietitian Nutritionists work closely with our clients to develop individualized nutrition care plans to help them manage medical conditions and provide guidance for managing nutrition-related medication side effects and weight loss or gain. In addition, we offer nutrition education workshops throughout the year to benefit the community. Our workshops teach people how to maintain and improve health through food choices and techniques to prepare food at home.

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Food Service Job Training

The Teaching Kitchen is a 12-week job-training program for people interested in careers in the food service industry who face barriers to full-time employment. As they learn food preparation and cooking techniques, trainees work alongside our culinary team to help us prepare the meals we deliver to our clients each day, giving their job-training experience purpose and connecting them to the communities in which they live.

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Volunteer Program

As one of the largest volunteer programs in the area, we welcome an average of 600 volunteers per month to work in our kitchen, deliver meals, and help with our fundraising efforts. More than 53,000 volunteer hours are donated each year.

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Local Foods Initiative

Recognizing that local foods are generally healthier and more appetizing, our local foods initiative benefits both our sick clients and neighbors in Jamaica Plain. We are committed to increasing access to healthy, local foods for our clients while also working to decrease food waste. Community Servings is also a local pick-up site for local produce and local fish through a CSA and CSF.

Learn More

Client Stories

The majority of our clients face hardships that would otherwise prevent access to nutritious meals. Critical illnesses do not discriminate, and at any point in time, anyone can receive a diagnosis of a debilitating disease. It’s important to recognize that a critical illness does not change who our clients are, but it can change how they are able to navigate their lives.

Ricardo

Ricardo is blind due to diabetes and also has kidney failure. When Ricardo and his wife lost their housing, they had to relocate their children and themselves to a motel because the homeless shelters were full. The motel had no kitchenette to prepare food so the family was unable to prepare hot meals for themselves.

When we learned about this family, we knew we had to help. Since Ricardo’s family doesn’t have access to a refrigerator or oven, we figured out a way to bring them meals every day – as well as plates and silverware. Now, each day Ricardo and his family enjoy healthy, comforting lunches, dinners, and snacks. Ricardo’s meals are tailored to help him cope with his illnesses. His children, who range in age from 5 to 13, dig into “kid-friendly” foods like our baked chicken and rice. We also deliver breakfast for the kids so they don’t go to school hungry.

Sarah

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

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 improves.

Martha

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.

Board of Directors

Community Servings’ Board of Directors is actively engaged in all aspects of making our mission happen – from developing our programs to raising crucial funds and awareness of our work and engaging the community.

See Board of Directors

Our Partners

We are privileged to have the generous support of the community and we take pride in our corporate, foundation, and community partners who make our work possible. Thank you!

All Partners

Support from Boston’s Restaurant Community

We’re privileged to have the generous support of Greater Boston’s restaurant community. Whether they’re baking Thanksgiving pies for Pie in the Sky, donating multi-course dinners for LifeSavor, or hosting their own fundraising events – our chef and restaurant partners embrace our mission to care for our most vulnerable neighbors.

Boston Chefs on the Need for Community Servings / 2016

Community Servings has achieved high ratings by this charitable rating organization.
Community Servings
179 Amory Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Phone: 617.522.7777
Fax: 617.522.7770
Copyright © 2023 All Rights Reserved Community Servings.
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