I am a volunteer at the Charlotte Maxwell Clinic. We provide free holistic health services and produce donated by Full Belly Farm to low-income women living with a diagnosis of cancer. Over the past years, I have written several columns from my perspective as a volunteer and long-time Full Belly Farm member, thanking the Full Belly Farm community and encouraging members to contribute to the Good Food Community Fund that supports the donations.
This year I asked CMC clients, staff, and volunteers for their comments about the program. Here’s some of what they had to say:
Thanks so much for your donations! To open the door and right away see a table full of yummy fresh fruits and veggies makes such a difference and really helps to create a healing environment! – Client
Gracias! Thank you! Merci! Thanks for all your donations of fresh veggies. You don’t know how much it’s appreciated. It helps with the grocery bill and tastes so good. — Client
Without Full Belly Farm and the generosity of its CSA members in donating produce boxes to Charlotte Maxwell Clinic, we would not be able to provide locally grown organic vegetables (and sometimes flowers!) to our clients. Being low-income they can’t afford as many vegetables as they need; having cancer, they know they need to eat healthfully. Without these donations, our clients would not have access to organic produce. Thank you! Yvonne Charles, CMC Executive Director
Dear, Kind, Full Belly Farm Staff – In a time when we all have challenges – including you – your generosity in sharing this wonderful healthy food with me brings joy to my body and a lessening of uncertainly in my life. Gratefully, a cancer survivor. – Client
Thank you so much for all your support. This wonderful program helped me when I need it most.
Love U ♥️ — Client
Thank you very much for bring us all these wonderful and organic produce. They were great at my time of difficulty. — Client
It’s so nice to be able to make suggestions to clients about healthy eating and then see them go to the produce table and take vegetables. They don’t leave Charlotte Maxwell Clinic feeling down that they can’t afford to follow my suggestions. They have access to the produce right there in the clinic. — Volunteer Nutritionist
We appreciate your generosity. Thank you for the fresh fruits and vegetables that nourish us! ♥️ Gracias. — Client
No additional comments needed from me, except to add my thanks and appreciation.
—Donna Odierna, CSA Member and FBF Volunteer Herbalist
Editor’s Note: Through the generosity of our members the Full Belly CSA has been able to donate 5 boxes per week to the Clinic every week we have been operating since 1993. If you are going out of town or feeling generous, consider donating a box. All you have to do is email us!
Say goodbye peppers
