The Fit and Food Connection is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing food and resources to low-income families in the St. Louis area. Founded by Joy Millner and Gabi Cole, the organization addresses food insecurity and promotes healthier lifestyles through a combination of food assistance, nutrition education, and fitness programs. Their holistic approach recognizes the interconnectedness of food access, nutrition, and physical activity in achieving overall well-being.
Addressing Food Insecurity in St. Louis
One of the primary ways The Fit and Food Connection supports the community is through its Food Access Program. This program directly tackles the issue of food insecurity by providing healthy food and opportunities for families in the St. Louis area to change their eating habits. The organization recognizes that access to nutritious food is a fundamental building block for a healthy life, and they work to bridge the gap for those who struggle to afford it.
Food Assistance & Delivery
The Fit and Food Connection offers healthy food deliveries to individuals and families facing hunger in northern St. Louis City and County. This service prioritizes underserved populations, including families with small children, senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities. By bringing food directly to people's doorsteps, the organization eliminates transportation barriers and ensures that vulnerable community members have access to essential nourishment. Food delivery recipient Christine Evans said via video: “What ya’ll give me is enough for me, you know - and take care of me and my needs. It’s nice,”. With the monthly food delivery service, Evans said does not have to try to find a ride or walk to get to a pantry.
Organic Garden: Project Sunflower
The organization's commitment to providing healthy food extends to its organic garden, Project Sunflower. This garden serves as a valuable resource for the surrounding food desert community, providing fresh, locally grown produce. Food is grown and harvested at the site, ensuring a sustainable source of nutritious ingredients for those in need. Every Monday, community members receive crops from the organization's garden and partner gardens.
A Holistic Approach to Wellness
The Fit and Food Connection goes beyond simply providing food; it empowers individuals and families to make lasting changes in their lives through nutrition education and fitness programs.
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Nutrition Education
The organization understands that access to healthy food is only part of the equation. To truly improve health outcomes, people need the knowledge and skills to make informed food choices. The Fit and Food Connection offers nutrition education to help families learn how to make healthier decisions, from food selection to implementing exercise in their daily routines. Millner added that she sends them home with a healthy snack, a healthy recipe, and shows them exactly what it looks like.
Fitness Programs
Recognizing the importance of physical activity, The Fit and Food Connection offers free fitness classes in various locations, including senior homes and apartment complexes. In one hour, the classes stretch and de-stress, because you can’t be healthy when you’re stressed. A brief education on something is also provided, followed by a pretty intense 20-minute workout for all levels, some core work, and a positive thought of-the-day. Tennis lessons are also offered for anyone interested in picking up a racquet every Sunday, all summer, at St. Vincent Community Center tennis court. The organization also teaches people how to play tennis. A fitness trainer with a passion for helping people add exercise into their day is one of the cofounders of the organization.
Collaboration and Community Impact
The Fit and Food Connection actively collaborates with other organizations and relies on the support of volunteers to achieve its mission.
Taylor Community Consulting Program
The Fit and Food Connection partnered with Washington University's Taylor Community Consulting Program (TCCP), where students bring a youthful perspective and business smarts based on their field of study. They are also very tech savvy and can use that knowledge throughout the project with The Fit and Food Connection. The students helped with some significant changes in the organization's volunteer onboarding system, and gave them a great structure to use as they onboard volunteers. Through the CEL’s Taylor Community Consulting Program, students can engage with the St. Louis Community and make life-changing impacts. Students in TCCP are valued and respected by clients.
The St. Louis Women’s Fund Grant
The Fit and Food Connection recently received a $19,500 grant from the St. Louis Women’s Fund to move 30 families off their waiting list and into their fitness and nutrition services.
Read also: Satisfy Your Cravings with Whole Foods
The Importance of Volunteers
The Fit and Food Connection is largely an all-volunteer organization. Millner stated that they honestly want a building of their own and would love to have their own home. They would love to have an employee to take some of the load off of Gabi and her, like a director of operations. On a much smaller scale, they really need delivery drivers on Sunday afternoons and they just really need healthy food.
Overcoming Challenges and Looking Ahead
Like any non-profit organization, The Fit and Food Connection faces challenges in its work. The time frame to work with is always challenging. Transportation is a major issue for individuals and families who live in food deserts - communities without grocery stores - particularly families in need with few resources.
Despite these challenges, The Fit and Food Connection remains committed to its mission of nourishing St. Louis communities. The organization hopes that the students learned about The Fit and Food Connection, and that they see the intense benefits of giving back in their community. They also want them to see how a community can work together to create positive change, and that their work can really make an impact. Millner and Cole currently operate out of Believer’s Temple Church at 2115 Chambers Rd. in Ferguson. Small grants, donations and volunteers are what maintain this connection.
How to Support The Fit and Food Connection
There are several ways to support the work of The Fit and Food Connection:
Donate: Financial contributions help the organization provide food, resources, and programs to families in need. Make a minimum contribution of $1,000 to Fit & Food Connection. Be sure to indicate your desire to apply for tax credits on your donation (check or online from memo line).
Read also: Healthy Eating on the Run
Volunteer: The organization relies on volunteers to assist with food deliveries, garden work, fitness classes, and other activities.
Spread the Word: Share information about The Fit and Food Connection with your friends, family, and colleagues to raise awareness of their work.
The Power of Connection
The Fit and Food Connection is more than just a food bank or fitness program; it is a vital resource that connects people to healthy food, empowers them to make positive changes, and fosters a sense of community. By addressing the root causes of food insecurity and promoting holistic wellness, the organization is making a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and families in the St. Louis area.
NAP Tax Credit Program
Donors can also benefit from the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) tax credits. By making a minimum contribution of $1,000 to Fit & Food Connection and indicating the desire to apply for tax credits on the donation, donors can receive Missouri state tax credits. Return the completed NAP tax credit application to Fit & Food Connection and they will submit it to the Missouri Department of Economic Development.*DISCLAIMER: The above graphic illustrates the potential overall savings on both federal and state levels for a donor in the 38% federal tax bracket. By considering the federal tax bracket, the example shows the full scope of tax benefits, including how the donation reduces taxable income federally, even though the NAP tax credits directly reduce only the state tax. The example also assumes that state taxes are not deductible on federal returns due to recent tax legislation limiting such deductions for many individuals. Additionally, it is assumed that federal taxes are not deductible on state tax returns. These calculations also presume that an individual is eligible to itemize deductions under the new tax laws. Please note, this is just an example to show potential savings for someone in this tax bracket who donates and receives NAP tax credits. This should not be taken as specific tax advice. For advice tailored to your individual circumstances, please consult with a tax advisor or accountant to see how tax credits might benefit you.
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