HOW WE HELP · FREE OF CHARGE

More than a meal - health, dignity, and hope.

Food Outreach delivers medically tailored meals and expert nutrition support to individuals living with HIV/AIDS or cancer — completely free to qualifying clients across the Saint Louis region.

OUR PROGRAMS

Five ways we support you

Every service is designed by registered dietitians and tailored to your medical needs — at no cost to you.

Medically Tailored Meals

Meals planned by registered dietitians and chefs to meet your exact nutritional needs — based on your diagnosis, medications, and health goals.

Every meal is chef-prepared from scratch, never mass-produced, and arrives ready to heat so you can spend your energy on healing instead of cooking.

There's no cost and no insurance required. Just tell us what's going on, and we'll build a plan around it.

Medically Tailored Groceries

Nutritionally appropriate staples, frozen proteins, and fresh produce selected by registered dietitians — so you can prepare meals at home that still support your health goals.

Meal Home Delivery

Meals and groceries delivered straight to your door, no matter what barriers you face with transportation, mobility, or being homebound.

Dietetic Counseling

One-on-one sessions with registered dietitians who specialize in the nutritional challenges of HIV/AIDS and cancer. Build a personalized plan that works for your body.

Nutrition Education

Practical guides, workshops, and resources to help you and your caregivers understand how food affects your health — so you can make confident choices every day.

Who Qualifies

We're here if you're facing serious illness

Food Outreach serves individuals living with HIV/AIDS or cancer who meet income guidelines. You don't need insurance — only a referral from a healthcare provider.

100% free — no cost to qualifying clients

No insurance required

Confidential — your privacy is protected

Referrals accepted from any healthcare provider

Anonymous and welcoming to all

HOW IT WORKS

From your first call to your first delivery

Here's what to expect when you reach out to Food Outreach.

1

Contact Us

Ask your doctor, social worker, or care team to submit a referral on your behalf.

2

Intake & Assessment

A registered dietitian welcomes you by reviewing your diagnosis, medications, and nutritional needs.

3

Services Begin

Receive meals and groceries either bi-weekly or monthly — along with ongoing access to registered dietitians.

4

Ongoing Support

Regular check-ins with your dietitian to adjust your plan as your needs change. We stay with you through the journey.

In their own words

Real quotes from the clients Food Outreach serves each year.

"When I first got HIV, I felt like my life was over. Food Outreach changed all that. They treat me like a friend, and help me take care of myself. I eat more fruit now. The mandarin oranges are awesome."
Client, Age 17
Food Outreach Client · HIV/AIDS
"Food Outreach has had a life-altering effect on me. I now look forward to getting up in the morning. I feel like people really do care about me and my health."
Client, Age 61
Food Outreach Client · HIV/AIDS
"I don't know where I would be or if I 'would be' if I hadn't made that first phone call to Food Outreach. Since then I have never been without food."
Client, Age 58
Food Outreach Client · Cancer
"I was diagnosed with cancer, and my world was shattered. At one point I had to go to hotels looking for 'free' continental breakfasts. My prayer for food was answered when the Siteman Cancer Center referred me to Food Outreach."
Client, Age 42
Food Outreach Client · Cancer

You deserve support. Let's get you started.

We're here to support you. Services are free and confidential. No insurance required.

FAQs

Quick answers on eligibility, enrollment, pickup, and home delivery. All services are free, and no insurance is required.

I still have more questions. Who should I contact?
  • For referrals, or to schedule an intake with a Registered Dietitian, please contact Rusoun Belue at 314-710-5543.
  • To speak with a Registered Dietitian, please call Taylor Aarns at 314-710-5530 or Eric Washausen at 314-710-5545.
  • For home delivery inquiries, please contact Luke Gallagher at 314-710-5542.
  • For program or research partner questions, please contact Sydney Gosik at 314-710-5532.
  • To discuss sponsorship or philanthropic partnership, please contact Julie Lock at 314-710-1115.
How do I volunteer? Or donate?

Thank you for your interest in supporting our mission!

Does Food Outreach provide nutritional supplements or vitamins?

No, Food Outreach does not provide supplements or multivitamins.

I am not a client with Food Outreach; can I still work with one of the Registered Dietitians, or pay to receive the meals?

No, you must be a client of Food Outreach to receive dietetic and nutrition services. We do not sell our Medically Tailored Meals or groceries.

What makes Food Outreach different from other food agencies in the St. Louis area?
  • Food Outreach is the only provider of medically tailored nutrition for food-insecure individuals diagnosed with HIV and cancer in the area.
  • Our rigorous focus on nutritious ingredients helps clients maintain their strength and optimize their medical treatments. We take a 'Food Is Medicine' approach to essential services. Our Registered Dietitians and Chefs are critical to our mission, as they plan and prepare all our Medically Tailored Meals. Food Outreach clients can also access our Registered Dietitians for individual nutrition counseling.
  • Clients who come in for food pick-up can select prepared frozen meals and groceries from a changing menu, allowing them the dignity of choice as well as accommodating food preferences, which is particularly important to cancer patients whose tastes frequently change because of treatment.
Can clients have food orders delivered to their home?
  • Yes. To be eligible for home delivered meals and groceries, individuals must live within 35 miles of our midtown location and meet eligibility requirements which include: inability to drive/commute due to illness or treatment, lack of transportation, and/or not having someone who could pick up food on their behalf.
  • Please know that currently, our organization is unable to provide client menu choice for home delivery. A preselected menu will be provided once a month for qualifying individuals. For more information on home delivery, please contact our Client Services Manager Luke Gallagher at 314-710-5542.
How often can I receive food delivery?

Clients may order groceries and/or frozen, Medically Tailored Meals on a monthly or biweekly basis. The frequency is determined during the client's intake appointment with a Registered Dietitian. Clients are provided with an average of 2 meals per day.

Can I fill out a menu online ahead of time?

Not at this time. Our menu updates daily, and the organization does not have the capacity to support this.

How do clients order their food onsite?
  • Most of our clients pick up their food orders at our Midtown facility, at 3117 Olive Street. We have a parking lot onsite, and there is additional street parking on Olive.
  • Clients may approve of friends, family, caregivers, or case managers to pick up food orders on their behalf.
  • Upon arrival, check in at our front desk with a photo ID, and receive a menu of our current offerings.
  • After your selections are made, turn in your menu, and our volunteers will gather the items for you. You will be called to the counter to bag up your items in the way you prefer.
  • We encourage you to bring your own grocery bags or boxes. As a thank-you for this, you may enter our monthly raffle for a chance to win a $25 grocery store gift card. However, we do provide plastic bags and cardboard boxes for your convenience. We have carts and volunteers who can assist you with transporting your food items to your vehicle.
How long will a client with HIV or cancer receive services from Food Outreach?

Clients with HIV who continue to meet the income requirements are eligible for services for their lifetime.

Clients with cancer are eligible for 12 months of service. After the first 12-month period, clients are contacted by a Registered Dietitian for recertification, where treatment will be reassessed. Once a client has completed their active cancer treatment, they will graduate from the Food Outreach program.

Does Food Outreach provide food for the entire family of the client with cancer or HIV?

No. Food Outreach only provides food to the diagnosed individual. On average, Food Outreach provides up to 2 meals/day to the client.

What services do you provide?

We offer groceries and Medically Tailored Meals. Grocery items include fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen meat, and pantry staples such as canned fruits and vegetables, oats, beans, rice, and pasta. Our Medically Tailored Meals are cooked from scratch onsite, and then frozen as microwaveable meals for our clients.

In addition, we have Registered Dietitians on staff who provide Nutrition Education and Counseling. Clients are encouraged to meet with a Dietitian when experiencing any food-related concern, such as poor appetite, treatment-side effects, or challenges with meeting nutritional needs.

All services are free of charge.

I'm a client. What do I need to bring with me when visiting Food Outreach?
  • Please bring a photo ID with you for food pickup.
  • You may bring in your own grocery bags or boxes to help us minimize plastic waste. As a thank-you, you may enter our monthly raffle where you have a chance to win a $25 grocery store gift card.
I'm a potential client. How do I get started?
  • Please reference our guidelines, and then ask a member of your care team to submit this referral to us.
  • Once we receive a referral and confirmation of your diagnosis, a Food Outreach team member will reach out to you within 5 business days to discuss enrollment.
  • You are required to meet with a Registered Dietitian, either in-person or by phone, in order to enroll into the program. Once enrolled, you will have the option to meet again for additional individualized Nutrition Counseling.
I'm a healthcare professional. How do I place a referral for someone in need?

Please submit an electronic referral using this form. A team member will reach out to the client within 5 business days to discuss enrollment.

Where can your services be accessed?
  • Food Outreach offers meals, groceries, and nutrition counseling onsite at 3117 Olive Street, St. Louis.
  • Food Outreach offers meal and grocery home delivery within a 35 mile radius of our location at 3117 Olive Street, St. Louis.
  • We are a regional provider, serving clients residing in over 140 Missouri and Illinois zip codes. We determine our guidelines by income level and qualifying treatments, not zip code or address.
  • Some clients living outside our delivery service radius choose to travel to meet our drivers within the radius. Others travel into St. Louis to receive treatment, and receive our grocery and nutrition counseling services when they are in town.
What are qualifying treatments?

For HIV, clients must be taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) medication.

For cancer, clients must be in active treatment such as chemotherapy, radiation, or have a scheduled upcoming surgery. Maintenance therapy, such as ongoing CT scans, nutrient repletion therapy, or biannual follow-up appointments do not qualify.

What are the program eligibility guidelines?

To be eligible for services, an individual must have a diagnosis of either HIV and/or cancer AND be in active treatment AND have an income that is at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. These guidelines are updated annually and can be viewed here.

Please know, we require a referral from a healthcare professional (Physician, Nurse, Registered Dietitian, Social Worker, community health worker, etc.) to confirm the diagnosis of cancer or HIV.

Still have questions?

Our team is happy to help. Call us at 314.652.3663 or send a message and we will get back to you within 2 business days.