#99 Food As Medicine, Access As Care with FOODiversity's Mackenzie Farmer
Listen to the audio version of this episode here.
Transcript Disclaimer:
This transcript was generated using AI software from the original podcast audio and may contain errors, omissions, or minor inaccuracies. It has been lightly edited for readability. Please refer to the full podcast episode for the most accurate representation of the conversation.
Mackenzie Farmer 0:00
And that's really the goal is to make it as low barrier as possible because even a sign is such a huge step because then that allows families and guests to feel seen. It opens up the communication within that organization for that household to be able to express their needs fully and feel confident and safe doing so. No small step is too small. It's all like truly, truly, and I mean, I don't wanna be cliche, but it is all so important to lead to a greater impact. 100%.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 0:41
Welcome to the Don't Feed the Fear podcast, where we dive into the complex world of food allergy anxiety. I'm your host, Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, food allergy anxiety psychologist and food allergy mom. Whether you're dealing with allergies yourself or supporting someone who is, join us for an empathetic and informative journey toward food allergy calm and confidence.
Food allergy life is hard enough as it is, but imagine that resources are stretched and you go to a food pantry for help and nearly everything on the shelf could hurt you or your child. Safe food costs more, takes more time to find, and is rarely what gets donated.
Living with that type of scarcity adds another layer of fear to the many challenges that we already face as a food allergy community. My guest today is working with her organization to change that. Mackenzie Farmer is the interim executive director of FOODiversity, a nonprofit dedicated to making sure people with food allergies, celiac disease, and any other dietary restrictions don't have to choose between safety and eating. Mackenzie trained in nutrition and public health at UNC Chapel Hill, and she comes to her work through a "food is medicine" lens. The idea that for people managing chronic conditions, the right food is part of their care. We talk about what food insecurity really looks like in our communities, what FOODiversity is doing about it, and the most important part, how every one of you can help, even if you don't have a dollar to give.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 2:03
Mackenzie, thank you so much for being here on Don't Feed the Fear today.
Mackenzie Farmer 2:07
Thank you so much for having me.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 2:09
Yeah, you have been a very busy person. When I was planning this episode, it was going to be Wendy Pake, the founder of FOODiversity, things have changed there since I invited her, and I had already gotten the chance to meet you, so you stepped up. And I want you to tell everybody a little bit about yourself, in the context of what FOODiversity so they know why you're here and what we're going to chat about.
Mackenzie Farmer 2:30
Yeah, of course. first and foremost, I'll start with our mission. So FOODiversity, we seek to reduce the burden of food insecurity for those with food allergies and celiac disease. And so I actually first learned about FOODiversity as I was earning my Master of Public Health. I really became interested in the utilization of food as medicine for conditions that might not typically be thought of in terms of food as medicine. And so, once I found out about FOODiversity, it was kind of just kismet because that's really a guiding principle within FOODiversity is using food to prevent and manage food allergies, of course. I started in 2023 as the program coordinator for the food delivery program. So that program is still my baby to this day. I will tell everyone, it's something I'm really proud of. And then, here I am serving as the interim executive director, so it's been really exciting. Having Wendy by my side during such a huge transition in my academic life, personal life, but also professional life, and having her really guide me through all of this has been so amazing, and I think the absolute world of her. So it's a bittersweet moment. I'm definitely glad she's getting to retire 'cause anyone who knows her absolutely knows that she deserves it. Of course she's still involved, but it's been a really great experience, and I've already learned so much, and so I'm really excited to see how FOODiversity continues to grow.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 4:03
I've met you quite a few times, but I actually can't remember if you have a personal connection to allergy or if you've learned all of this in the context of working with FOODiversity?
Mackenzie Farmer 4:12
Yeah. I say yes and no because, so my father does have a very extreme shellfish allergy, but we were lucky in the sense of growing up, I never witnessed it. It was always something growing up that we were aware of in terms of where we were eating at, and what meals we were planning for the week. So the condition that I was looking at in my undergrad is Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. It's a rare connective tissue disorder, and I actually have it. And so one of the comorbidities of it are food allergies. So far I've only had food intolerances. But it is something that I'm very much aware of within the community, even as I talk to friends with hEDS, or work on projects with that, like it's something that has to be at the top of your mind just because it is so close together. And so, like I said, that's why I was like, "OODiversity is just kismet," 'cause it was meant to be truly.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 5:11
You do so many things as an organization, but why don't you start with where you started with the organization with the food delivery program?
Mackenzie Farmer 5:18
Yeah. So it is, of course, Food is Medicine, direct to household grocery program. And so that's actually really where FOODiversity as a whole started back in 2020 when Wendy founded the nonprofit. Over the years, it has improved, but relatively it has had really the same core components, which is, we seek to provide grocery services to folks who are experiencing food insecurity while managing food allergies, celiac disease, food intolerances, stuff like that. It's a three-month program, and it's really great. Folks can either refer themselves into it, or they can have who we call community leaders refer into it. So really that could be anyone in terms of a social worker, a school nurse, a healthcare physician or healthcare provider, a food pantry even. Really someone who just understands what that family, what that household is going through.
And then like I said, they have access to allergen-friendly, gluten-free groceries for three months at no cost to them. And so they're really able to select what they need. And so we partner with Attain Health for that. They're a wonderful online nutrition marketplace. The household is able to shop on their own time, every month, use filters based on their dietary restrictions, cultural preferences, but also just lifestyle habits. Once they place their order, it's free delivery to their home. So that's been really huge for folks with limited or no transportation or, physical disabilities that might, impact their ability to leave the house as a whole, or even just folks that have a lot on their plates. I never wanna discount that, especially with all of the time that food allergies can add into someone's schedule. Time is of the essence. And then of course, in addition to that, we supplement it with education. So whether that be an enrollment kit that talks about how to actually understand the information that's on a nutrition and ingredient label, or if it's our monthly newsletter where we talk about relevant news regarding celiac disease and food allergies. You name it, it's there. And so it's a really good opportunity for households really wherever they're at in their food allergy journey, whether they just got diagnosed or they've had it for a few years, but are experiencing food insecurity. We've really tried to be able to meet people where they are and be able to, no matter what, help them feel successful after this program. In terms of what outcomes we look at that we're really proud of within the program, of course, we look at food access, that's key. But also health and wellbeing, and that's very holistic in a sense because, again, food allergies can impact so many components of one's life. And so we want to make sure that our program accounts for all that. So not only is it reducing that financial stress, but of course, theoretically, more improved access to allergen-friendly foods is gonna lead to better physical health because you're less concerned about having a physical reaction. And then of course that automatically helps mental health because you might be less stressed about finances, you might be less stressed about a potential exposure. There's so many things tied to it. So again, that's holistic. And then we look at condition management. So really how confident does someone feel within all the aspects of a food allergy? Do they feel confident for example, going to a birthday party and saying, maybe I can't have that cake, but I have my own cake." Or actually ahead of the party asking, "Is there any way that we can, Get a cake that all my friends can enjoy, me and them?" We really want them to be empowered in that sense. Lastly, we have dietary habits, and that's just as a whole. Are you eating more variety? Are you trying new foods and preparing more foods at home? It's just really incredible to see both the tangible impacts through the food access, but also the intangible impacts through all of these outcomes that I just mentioned. It's my baby. I could go on and on about it for days, but I won't.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 9:26
I can see why though, because there's so much to it. Obviously spending so much time in this space as you do highlights what I think people outside of our space don't understand, is that it's not just a financial barrier, right? There's time barrier, there's education and information barriers. There are the impact of social determinants of health, and that it's not just as simple as buy something that doesn't have your allergen in it.
Mackenzie Farmer 9:49
Looking at food allergies from a kind of systemic viewpoint, so kind of from a bird's-eye view, and also food insecurity and all the ways that those can overlap. So for example, looking at a school system. So that 504 plan is already key, um, for folks with food allergies. But then when you throw food insecurity into the mix and they might be truly relying on those school meals, that's where, for example, if for whatever reason the school is not able to accommodate those food allergies in a way that makes the family feel confident and safe, then that's really a key space where the food delivery program can serve in terms of not only providing a lunch but a fun lunch.
I remember as a kid, we always wanted, to trade foods, and even when we couldn't because of safety concerns, we would compare snacks and we wanted to see who had the coolest snack. That is I would argue, one of the key things that happens in the school cafeteria, and so we want every child to be able to experience that, regardless of if they have a food allergy or if they're experiencing food insecurity. I would also just say in terms of that bird's eye view that also comes into play looking at healthcare systems as they're doing food insecurity screeners. While it might be pertinent then to also look at their medical history because unfortunately not every community food provider is gonna be able to provide allergen-friendly foods. And so that is something we're working on at FOODiversity, but I think it's definitely a journey and there's a lot of contributing factors to that. All of these different community touchpoints is so key, but also just very basically in the grocery store. So there are so many barriers regarding transportation. Um, again, we get into that time factor. I know there have been so many different, um, figures and statistics done about the added time of prepping not only the grocery list, but prepping the grocery list, going to the store, reading the labels, going home, actually prepping different meals 'cause especially in folks that are experiencing food insecurity, they might not be able to have the entire home be allergen-friendly because they might not be able to get substitutes or alternatives, they might not be able to afford those for all family members. So prepping different dishes, that of course takes time. Just the overall access I think really does get into those social determinants of health and does level the playing field a bit for folks.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 12:25
It's so important w-the way you're describing to engage the community, and I know that's so central, like all of these different systems, because these social determinants of health are systemic issues. They're not individual. They affect us at the individual level, but they're so integrated into all of our systems and our programs. So I love that approach. I think that's obviously so brilliant. Can you talk more about other ways that you're engaging those systems and community partnerships?
Mackenzie Farmer 12:51
Yeah, absolutely. Thanks for asking. And just to touch on your comment, I cannot take credit for that. Wendy and some of our amazing partners, of course, led to that. So I'm just here continuing the work. Proud to do so, but definitely can't take the credit for it. But, in terms of how we seek to increase access at a community level, we do file that under our community engagement initiatives. That's what we call them. And so really it is an umbrella term for all the work that we do in the community, and so we're always trying to meet folks where they're at. We'll partner of course with food banks, food pantries, community meal programs or meal sites, as well as other sites that might just happen to have an on-site food pantry, like a school, like a healthcare clinic or there's so many amazing parenting organizations we've seen that have those in-house food pantries. And so really working with them to create a space that is safe and accommodating and welcoming above all for folks with dietary restrictions.
Because ultimately I think that overlap between dietary restrictions and food insecurity, I think it is pretty overlooked, not intentionally, but just when there is so much already going on for our community food providers and emergency food providers, it's so easy to just go with what's working, and they are doing an amazing job, and I applaud them for everything that they do for their communities. And so we're really, again, trying to meet them where they're at with their successes, and being able to work within their existing capacity, within their existing operations, and just push the envelope a little bit farther, to include allergen-friendly, gluten-free options. We are very flexible in terms of how we do that because we do recognize every organization's going to be different.
And so typically what we'll do is we'll just have a baseline, whether that's a survey, meeting, learn about where they're at, upon us meeting them. Understand what their needs are what their goals are, all of that fun stuff. And so from there, we can really build a plan to work forward. And so really at the starting point, okay, I have an interest in this, but I know nothing about it, which is 100% A-okay. I never want folks to feel like they have to already know what a food allergy is. Providing that information about what is a food allergy, how is it different than a food intolerance, what are allergic reactions and what is anaphylaxis? Then we can start talking more about general accommodations that sites can offer, but again, not necessarily 100% pinning down a plan for that organization yet.
Then we move into what I would say is almost our next level of community awareness. So looking at who within your service population fits this category? Who has food allergies, celiac disease, food intolerances? Let's get an actual number on that if we can. And so looking at if we can easily add a survey question to an intake survey or if we can even utilize national data and try to adjust that to see how we can apply it to that community. It's definitely a needed step, I would say, just to even know what your community is because I think there's a, unfortunately, a misconception that still pervades today, which is food allergies aren't that common. I feel like there's two ends of the spectrum. It's either everyone has food allergies or food allergies aren't that common. We're trying to reach people and get them to the middle.
So whichever way you are really raising awareness about the 20% of folks with food allergies who also are experiencing food insecurity, and noticing that, again, that applies to your community. And so then once we have that awareness and we understand what the community needs are, is there a higher need for gluten-free food? Is there a higher need for dairy-free food? What does that breakdown really look like? Then we can start getting into the more public-facing, steps of putting up signage, getting that allergen-friendly section going, or if it's a meal site, getting an allergen-friendly version of whatever meal's being distributed.
That stuff's really gonna depend on what the site wants, what their capacity is, because, we never want to be a barrier to them. We want this to be a partnership, a collaboration, and really for it to be successful, we want them to see it as their own initiative as well, something that they can own. So its own allergen-friendly section, that might be a solution for one site. It might not be for another site. Another site might just be, stickers on something, you name it. But really at least creating that visibility for folks so that even if they do still have to go up to a staff member and ask at a food pantry, and say, "Well, I have a food allergy. Do you have any foods that are safe for me?" Or, "Do you have any foods that meet my dietary needs?" That way someone knows, and someone can direct them And then from there really just raising community awareness because it's gonna take a lot of sites doing this, a lot of organizations. It definitely starts with small steps and all of that, but really to create an allergen-friendly community where this food is truly accessible, it's gonna go above FOODiversity It's gonna go above any food allergy organization, and same for a food insecurity organization like a food bank, like a food pantry. It's gonna take a lot of folks doing it all together and really recognizing the need for this.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 18:26
Of course that's true, but I want to give you a chance to brag. Give us some of the stats on locations or sites or how much of an impact FOODiversity has been able to have so far?
Mackenzie Farmer 18:36
Yeah. So across our three programs, we are in 25 states. Some folks think we are limited to the South or even to North Carolina because that's where Wendy and I are based. But we are truly national. So yes, we have raised awareness of our mission in 25 states across the US, and we were really excited earlier this year, we got to do a national food bank food pantry survey and learn where folks are, really getting that baseline data, but then again, being able to provide that information.
And so I will say there's a lot of work to do. Just some statistics from that, 52% of organizations asked guests as they came in about any dietary restrictions. 36% trained their staff about food allergies. 27% had regular and consistent access to allergen-friendly foods. And then something else that kind of falls within our community engagement initiatives is disaster relief. So that was included in there. 72% had a disaster relief plan, but only 4% of these organizations had a specific clause, line, bullet point, whatever you wanna call it, for folks with dietary restrictions, and that's as a whole, not even food allergies. FOODiversity has been working with FAACT and AAFA, to create some type of public-facing or food bank-facing, food pantry-facing resource to really be able to raise awareness of that. And at least at the time of recording, it is National Disaster Preparedness Month. I know this will be coming out a bit closer to the more thankful side of the season.
So I mean, it's definitely still applicable because of course that's when community food providers do get an influx of donations. So it's the perfect time to see if your food pantry that you're donating foods to actually has an allergen-friendly section or is aware of it. That's really the first step. I think that's a bragging point as well because within that survey, we were able to not only really measure those needs, but also look towards the future in terms of what outcomes and what impact they want to be able to have.
Our number one, most requested resource is educational resources. So really being able to train the staff on it, but also the public if they have questions about it. And then of course a source for allergen-friendly foods, 'cause I know that can be, especially in a system, that is already very busy, there more resources are always better. FOODiversity is proud to be able to extend food delivery program enrollments to these sites. So for example, even if they have all of the accommodations they could, they still might not be able to meet the needs of a family with multiple food allergies and multiple members with multiple food allergies, with transportation issues like the food delivery program would be able to.
So we do partner with them for that so that they can refer into the program. But also, providing direct food access when able, so to those allergen-friendly foods. And so that's always something really huge that we're always very, very grateful to be able to do, especially when folks like community food pantries or community food providers might still be getting their bearings with these new allergen-friendly operations. You know? Any way that we can take a step towards that success, I'm very much proud of.
So I won't brag too much, but I will say, a lot of work has been done within that this year, and we're not even close to being done. There's so much still left to do. So I'm really excited about it. And, if there are any organizations listening or even folks that work or volunteer with organizations that are listening, you can always reach out to us. We're always available because really we do just wanna improve that access.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 22:27
Simple. The organizations can just contact you, or people listening that might be working with those organizations can just tell them, "Get in touch with FOODiversity and talk about how you can partner"?
Mackenzie Farmer 22:38
Exactly. Exactly. Yeah, it all starts with one email. That one email turns into a survey or introductory meeting, and then from there, all of the stuff I talked about, then we can get into it. And 100%, like I said, national, all 50 states.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 22:53
Well, you work at such a macro level where I work with people just so individually, but the themes are the same. And one of them that I want to highlight that you touched on, that's so true is with any individual or any particular family work- managing food allergies, there's no one right way to do it.
Mackenzie Farmer 23:11
Right
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 23:11
At the organizational level, I love hearing you say that's the same thing. What works for one place might not work for another program, and that's so important to remember. It's not just if you want to be allergy-friendly, here's the way you have to do it. You can't serve this, or you have to offer this. It depends on that location and program.
Mackenzie Farmer 23:27
Exactly. Exactly. And that's really the goal is to make it as low barrier as possible because even a sign is such a huge step because then that allows families and guests to feel seen. It opens up the communication within that organization for that household to be able to express their needs fully and feel confident and safe doing so. No small step is too small. It's all like truly, truly, and I mean, I don't wanna be cliche, but it is all so important to lead to a greater impact. 100%.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 24:10
Absolutely. And the other theme I think you're talking about is all these connections, right? All this collaboration with other organizations. You mentioned some of them already. We just had Dr. Mike Pistiner on the show the week before you talking about this amazing resource that he has spearheaded called FAMP-IT, which for those who might have missed that episode, I'll link it, but go back and check it out, and that is focusing on infants and toddlers. Why don't you talk about how you're partnering with him and his team on FAMP-IT?
Mackenzie Farmer 24:37
Yeah, I'd love to. And you did mention, yes, all these collaborations which were, is another kind of key proud point. And so FAMP-IT is absolutely one of them. And so really that's through our early introduction parent program. Our program with FOODiversity kind of seeks to bring these national resources to local communities. And so it raises awareness of the national infant feeding guidelines in a non-medical, non-prescriptive way, specifically for parents and caregivers who might not necessarily have access to routine preventative healthcare.
We are currently on our third cohort. It started back in 2024. But for this cohort we were really excited to be able to partner with FAMP-IT and with Dr. Mike. He's been absolutely amazing. The whole FAMP-IT team has been fantastic to work with. And so really the way that the program works is we use a train the trainer model. Really any parent-facing organization is able to come. They get a little one-hour training, again about what food allergies are, anaphylaxis, as well as just the current infant feeding guidelines. Once they go through that training, they're then able to use a handout that was co-designed by FOODiversity and FAMP-IT. And again, it is all non-medical, non-prescriptive, really just raising awareness about what the guidelines are, and provide them to parents.
Essentially what is included within it is, again, information about the guidelines, information about what the research says, as well as some resources and information to help empower parents and caregivers to feel comfortable to start that conversation with healthcare providers. 'Cause I think that's almost half of the challenge is finding out what it is, but then how to talk about it, right? Pediatricians have so much already to talk about during those typical wellness checks, and so it's so easy to maybe overlook a topic or even just not talk about it enough in a way that the parent feels fully confident to move forward with it.
That handout includes questions to help guide that conversation, as well as resources like WIC, like FAMP-IT Family specifically for the handout, as well as low-cost or free healthcare resources based on your ZIP code. And again, that's just because we recognize that not everyone might have that access, so we wanna make sure that, again, our handout leads into more of a conversation with your child's doctor. It's a fantastic program, and FAMP-IT has not only helped us update our materials for this cohort and improve them even more, but they also were able to help us provide access to families that speak Spanish. So we now have a Spanish version, which is fantastic.
And then also, we do lunch and learns as part of the program. So any organization that is what we call a cohort lead, but essentially has completed that training, as well as parents, they're able to attend those lunch and learns for free. It's quarterly, and we have a guest speaker, and they come and go into a little bit more depth into a specific topic revolving around early allergen introduction and infant feeding as a whole. So it's a great opportunity to learn about more than you might even think that you could learn about.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 28:06
Yeah, and such an important piece of this, we think about safe food access in terms of people who already have allergies. We have all this great information now about how we can not entirely prevent, but really reduce the amount of food allergies that people are developing. But access to those foods in order to do so is a huge piece of this that I think is just coming on the radar as we're implementing that new knowledge.
Mackenzie Farmer 28:28
Absolutely. Yeah, 100%. We did a recent event for new or expecting mothers, and they had to be enrolled in Medicaid within that county. And so we just did a survey just to see, and 90% of them had not even heard that there were national infant feeding guidelines revolving around potential food allergy prevention. If the information isn't even there, and then looking at food access as another component, definitely in the future is gonna continue to be really a key focus, not only just for food allergy organizations or early allergen introduction organizations, but really society as a whole.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 29:13
Across all of these programs and different circumstances in which you're working on this issue, what are you finding that you wish people working in food assistance understood about allergies? What are the big missing pieces of information or misconceptions?
Mackenzie Farmer 29:29
I think you've had a lot of speakers already touch on this, but I'll be one more to add to the list. It is not a choice. It is a medical need. Food allergies are 100% a medical need. So folks that are coming into sites and organizations with food allergies or celiac disease or even food intolerances, we should view it as any other really medical treatment because that's what needs to be done to prevent a reaction. Under the ADA it is recognized as a disability, and if a site can't accommodate that, that's okay.
Of course our goal is to always have that expanded access, but if you don't have access that day, simply be honest while also listening. We've had so many, unfortunately, customers within our food delivery program who have mentioned that, they go to a community food provider and they mention that, for example, they have a dairy allergy and they get a gallon of milk. They have a peanut allergy and they get peanut butter. So even just if you cannot do anything for that family that day, even just listening to them is so key. I recognize that folks are very, very busy, but even just taking a minute to listen, can be huge for that family or that household.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 30:50
Just to be taken seriously
Mackenzie Farmer 30:52
100%.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 30:54
And I feel I should throw this in too, 'because I, I tend to abbreviate and just say food allergy, but I want to make sure people know, and I know you include this too, like celiac as well.
Mackenzie Farmer 31:03
Yes
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 31:03
Non-IGE mediated food allergies like FPIES and EoE, all of those things are, are included in this statement about the genuine medical need for accommodations and for access to safe food. let me flip the question. What do you wish that individuals or families with food allergies knew about the resources that might be available to them or accessing support when they might benefit from it?
Mackenzie Farmer 31:26
Right now these systems are so unfortunately inundated with needs. And so if for whatever reason an organization is not necessarily able to meet a need at that moment, it's not necessarily because they don't want to. They truly might... I can't tell you how many times we've tried to partner with folks, and they have just had to tell us that they don't have the capacity right now to partner in the way that they would want to. That doesn't mean they couldn't put up a sign, but it might mean they might not be able to have a full-blown allergen-friendly gluten-free section like they would want. It could also be they don't know.
This is something that's unfortunately, again, put on food allergy families to educate others, but sometimes really that is what it takes. I cannot tell you how many conversations that I have had with organizations or even just people in everyday life where I mention what I do, where I mention something about FOODiversity The amount of times I hear, "Oh, I've never even thought about that. You're right. That's really important," is astronomical.
So even though it may be tiring, even though it may be sometimes even a little bit annoying to have to explain your or someone in your household's food allergies, celiac disease, you name it, and how a good way to accommodate might be, it is truly, truly, truly about raising awareness. Generally I find that in most places, especially again, within public health 'cause it's made up of people that care, people do care. They genuinely want to help you however they can. And if they can't, maybe if you come back later, maybe that interaction led to something that changed. If you ever want help making change in that space, of course reach out to FOODiversity We're always more than willing to help guide those conversations, 'cause again, that can get tiring for folks with dietary restrictions. So if it is one little thing to take off your plate for me or someone on my team to send the email instead, please, I would be more than happy to.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 33:51
I tend to think of it like for those of us within this community who care about this topic, but maybe do have the privilege of not facing food insecurity at this time, maybe that's something that we can do, is reaching out to the organizations in our communities, right? If there is a food bank that you personally like to support to bring it up, even if you're not the one who might need to access the services at this point in time, right? And then obviously we know who we can connect them and direct them to, right?
Mackenzie Farmer 34:14
Yes, 100%. And I would even say that's more important during giving season as well. Everyone wants to have good intentions in donating foods and stuff, but if you're gonna get allergen-friendly stuff or gluten-free stuff to donate, it might be worth it just to see what systems they currently have in place, and if they don't, even just that question can put it into their mind and into potentially even their organizational flow chart.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 34:40
Exactly. That's a good point. This is a good point for me to mention that there are ways for us, those who want to contribute and help, it's not always financial, raising awareness and advocating on behalf of other people within our community is so important. We appreciate the work that you do so much. For those who are in the spirit of giving as the holidays are coming and they want to financially support the work that you're doing, please tell them the best ways for them to do that.
Mackenzie Farmer 35:04
Yeah, of course. So best way is always just to go to our website, fooddiversity.org. It is F-O-O-D-I-V-E-R-S-I-T-Y.org. And we have a little donate page on there. That's really truly the best way. If there are other ways that you'd like to give, even if it's your time, please reach out to us. We have a little contact us section on the website and that's really the best. We do also have social media. Instagram's @fooddiversityorg and then Facebook is just FOODiversity Just raising awareness and even if you wanna learn more about how to raise awareness, we are here for you.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 35:44
For those who don't hear the name as often as you and I do, I want to make sure they catch that. It's that clever blending of two words, so there's only one D, right? But we'll put the links in the show notes for people, too.
Mackenzie Farmer 35:55
Yes. Thank you.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 35:57
Let's wrap up then by telling us about what's ahead? What's the bigger picture from here forward?
Mackenzie Farmer 36:03
I can guarantee that we're gonna keep seeking to improve that access. Like I mentioned earlier, we're in 25 states. We would love to be in all 50. And so truly, truly, truly, if there is ever a need, whether that's the food delivery program, seeking help for that 100%. And that is something that I know we would love to be able to grow and just expand impact there. In terms of our early introduction parent program, we'll be hosting cohort three with FAMP-IT until about May of 2027, and so folks can really join on until probably about February of 2027. But even if you miss that, after that there's gonna be cohort four.
So we're gonna keep going. We're gonna keep it rolling. And then in terms of our community engagement initiatives, of course we're looking forward to really interacting with more organizations, having that increased impact, providing those accommodations for folks with dietary restrictions. Just hoping to expand our reach, expand our impact, all of that fun stuff.
Amanda Whitehouse, PhD 37:08
Thank you for all of that, and I thank you for doing this episode at a time when I know the people listening really care and want to do something to help. And we feel helpless, but when we see organizations like yours that are banding together and connecting with others, it feels so much more impactful to be able to support you. So I hope the people listening will consider doing that in whatever way they are able to so that we can get each other's backs.
Mackenzie Farmer 37:29
Absolutely, and thank you so much for having me again.
Speaker 7 37:32
Thank you so much, Mackenzie, for everything that you and your team at Food Diversity are doing. As we head into the giving season, here are three action steps you can take after listening today.
Go to Food Diversity's website at foodiversity.org. Remember, there's only one D. Or on social media @foodiversityorg, on Instagram and Facebook. Learn more about what they do and consider giving in whatever way you can, whether that's your time, your voice, or your dollars. You can volunteer, share this episode, post about it, or make a donation if you're able to. Awareness is a very important form of giving.
Number two, check the show notes for the handout that Mackenzie mentioned that was created in partnership with the FAMP-IT website. It's a great resource for basic information about early introduction of food allergens and tips for food safety around preparing and serving the common food allergens.
Third, make a local connection. Think about a food pantry, a school backpack program, a faith community, a food bank near you and ask them a simple question: How do you support people with food allergies or celiac? It could be as simple as a phone call or an email, and if they don't have a plan in place, then you could suggest that they partner with FOODiversity You don't have to be an expert. You're just opening the door and sharing the resource. And as Mackenzie said during the episode, even if that question doesn't immediately lead to change, you're planting a seed and a thought that might not have been in the conversation for that organization before.
You'll find links to everything we talked about in today's show notes. And remember, safety isn't just about avoiding a reaction or an exposure. It's about knowing that there will be safe food on the table tomorrow and for every meal.
The content of this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions about your own medical experience or mental health needs, please consult a professional. I'm Dr. Amanda Whitehouse. Thanks for joining me. And until we chat again, remember don't feed the fear.