In 1998, Lexington folk artist Charlie Williams, recently diagnosed with the AIDS virus, died of starvation. Williams loss impacted the late arts enthusiast and HIV/AIDS activist, Michael Thompson, who began delivering leftover meals from local restaurants to HIV and AIDS patients that he knew were experiencing hunger – an effort that he hoped would eliminate more needless deaths of those living with the disease.
With the help of friends, fellow activists, and the Episcopal Aids Ministry, funding was secured to remodel a kitchen located on the University of Kentucky campus and Moveable Feast Lexington was born. With their own kitchen, Moveable Feast was able to deliver hot, freshly-prepared, nutritious meals to those they serve, and nearly 25 years later their work continues.
Operating with the premise that “food is medicine,” Moveable Feast serves not only HIV/AIDS patients, but patients in hospice care and any caregivers or dependents living in the home. Their kitchen staff modifies menus to accommodate the specific nutritional needs of their clients, and volunteer drivers deliver meals five days a week from their own building located in Lexington’s East End.
Moveable Feast has been working with God’s Pantry Food Bank since their beginning. Currently, they are receiving food from Whole Foods through our retail rescue program, and from Jacked Nutrition through MealConnect – a program that reduces waste by redirecting surplus prepared foods to meal programs like Moveable Feast.
Executive Director Terry Mullins says, “What we really appreciate are the breads and desserts that we get, as well as the prepared items that we can just turn around and send back out for lunch.”
He continues, “Working with God’s Pantry Food Bank helps us cut down on food costs a great deal by not having to buy certain things. It keeps us from having to buy bread or buy or make desserts.”
Moveable Feast is currently serving around 125 meals each weekday, and Terry estimates that around 2,000 pounds of food is received each month through their partnership with the Food Bank. Since the partnership began, Moveable Feast has received close to 150,000 pounds of food from God’s Pantry Food Bank at an average of 2 cents per pound.
Not only does Moveable Feast provide food, but they also provide connection. For some of their clients, the fellowship with the volunteer drivers is as valuable as the food. And the team at Moveable Feast also keeps an eye on those they serve, often being among the first to know that a client’s health is declining or improving.
God’s Pantry Food Bank is proud to partner with Moveable Feast Lexington, and we are grateful for the tremendous work that they do in Fayette County. We look forward to another 25 years and beyond of assisting them as they serve our community.
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