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Harnessing the healing power of food

776 Votes
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Project Angel Heart provides an essential service to deliver meals to Coloradans facing serious illness. Cherry Creek Insurance Group reached their goal of 500 votes + shares and won a $10,000 donation from Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance to contribute to the cause. Congrats to the team and thank you for supporting them!

People with life-threatening illnesses take on challenges that would be unthinkable to many of us.  Managing treatments and medication of illnesses like cancer, HIV/AIDS and lung disease is a massive undertaking, but satisfying day-to-day needs alone can be a huge point of stress. Doing regular grocery shopping and ensuring those foods meet medical needs is particularly difficult.

In 1991, a group of Denver neighbors teamed up to deliver food to friends living with HIV. This group began expanding this service, and became Project Angel Heart. They haven’t stopped growing since, delivering more meals to Coloradans facing serious illness each year than the last. This year, they’ll deliver over half a million meals to more than 3,500 people.

It takes a village to serve your neighbors

Since 2019, Cherry Creek Insurance Group (CCIG) began its long-term commitment to the Project Angel Heart cause. CCIG staff volunteers at two to three events each year, and up to a third of the large agency participates.

“The most rewarding feeling about volunteering with Project Angel Heart is knowing that even this small fraction of our day will speed up the delivery of meals to many of their clients,” said Diana Rojas, a member of CCIG’s community outreach committee. “It is a team effort by so many, from the chefs and dieticians to the volunteers, to work together to provide healthy meals to those who need it the most.”

“The most rewarding feeling about volunteering with Project Angel Heart is knowing that even this small fraction of our day will speed up the delivery of meals to many of their clients.”

-Diana Rojas, Cherry Creek Insurance Group community outreach committee

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Before the pandemic, CCIG was able to help Project Angel Heart pack meals for many individuals in need.

Food is one thing – medically-tailored meals are another

Delivering meals takes the pressure off of these individuals and their families, but delivering meals made specifically for them can do even more. This is what Project Angel Heart’s chefs and dieticians mean by ‘medically-tailored meals.’

“Nutrition is a key factor in maintaining good health and decreasing the prevalence of chronic disease,” said Rachel Rooney, Development Partnerships Officer at Project Angel Heart. “When an individual’s health is compromised, food can slow or prevent the progression of illness. Food actually becomes a form of medicine.”

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Project Angel Heart chefs and staff cook and freeze meals every day, while the volunteers help package them and prepare them for delivery.

For example, a person living with kidney disease often requires meals lower in potassium, phosphorous, and sodium – minerals that may be troublesome for people whose kidneys aren’t working properly. For these clients’ meals, Project Angel Heart cuts out the dairy, and replaces the tomatoes and beans with roasted red peppers and rice. These small changes can help minimize symptoms for people with kidney disease.

“When an individual’s health is compromised, food can slow or prevent the progression of illness. Food actually becomes a form of medicine.”

-Rachel Rooney, Development Partnerships Officer, Project Angel Heart

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CCIG is consistently able to round up volunteers from their staff to lend a hand at the Project Angel Heart facility when the help is needed.

Kind gestures become essential services

“The threat of contracting COVID-19 often makes accessing, affording, and preparing healthy meals impossible,” said Rooney. These very real dangers only pile onto the barriers to food access for those individuals who may be facing fatigue and mobility challenges.

Where many saw limitations, Project Angel Heart saw the pandemic as an opportunity to expand their services, including launching a vaccine clinic in the neighborhood where their Denver kitchen is located. CCIG has maintained their commitment through this crisis as well, continuing to prepare meals for the organization’s clients, so they can put their energy into getting healthy.

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While the pandemic has created challenges and has forced Project Angel Heart’s hallmark events to be cancelled, the organization has still committed to meet community demand for meals. CCIG hopes to help lighten that load with this $10k.

Your comment or share is no small contribution. In fact, it can help CCIG reach $10,000, or 1,200 meals for the people who need them most. Use the social share buttons to share their story with your community, and leave a comment below. Each action you take gets Cherry Creek Insurance Group and Project Angel Heart close to their goal!

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Todd G Berg
2 years ago

We love Project Angel Heart!

Tina Waldner
2 years ago

Awesome organization! I choose you for a few reasons. Good luck!

Rachel Raulins
2 years ago

Great organization that I’m proud to support!

Sean Steele
2 years ago

Awesome cause. Great job CCIG!

Jeannette
2 years ago

There is such care at every layer of service this wonderful organization provides.

Tonya Kaye
2 years ago

Thanks CCIG!

Kukis Moran
2 years ago

I love their mission!

Robert Hartley
2 years ago

Great community action.

Mark Groshek
2 years ago

I am proud to be a Board Member supporting this incredible organization! Thank you CCIG for supporting them too!

Dan Burroughs
2 years ago

Wonderful people doing a wonderful job!

Jason Pingenot
2 years ago

Wonderful way to help our neighbors! Great example of kindness for all of us

GINNY GELBACH
2 years ago

It is an honor to volunteer for this incredible organization. When I check the menu board before starting my shift, I am so impressed with the variety and healthfulness of the meals that get delivered. We are so lucky for Angel Heart. Keep up the good cooking’ and I’ll keep decorating food bags.

Jeff
2 years ago

Project Angel Heart is awesome!

Christine
2 years ago

What a great organization!

John D
2 years ago

Project Angel Heart is a wonderful organization!

Lauren
2 years ago

Amazing organization with a top notch staff. It’s been a pleasure to be a volunteer the last three and a half years

Allison
2 years ago

Such an incredible organization doing big things!

Harrison Briner
2 years ago

I’ve loved volunteering with PAH!

Max Scuorzo
2 years ago

PAH is an amazing organization that serves our community. I’m so proud of being a small part of their efforts to make sure people in our area get their nutrition needs met.

Heather Moritz
2 years ago

Love this organization and love volunteering here. I bought my mom and daughter which was so much fun!

Kyle Dodgion
2 years ago

This organization helps so many folks in CO who need nutrition support. I love volunteering for them!

Amy Santello
2 years ago

Thank you CCIG! Project Angel Heart is making such a difference in the lives of many, and it is awesome you have committed to helping them continue make that difference.

Denise
2 years ago

Thank you Project Angel Heart and CCIG for working together to support the community!

Andrew Gibbs
2 years ago

Great company with some amazing people! Proud to work with Project Angel Heart and to continue give back to the community!

Gina Lux
2 years ago

Such a fantastic organization!

Nic Soucy
2 years ago

Huge thank you to CCIG for supporting Project Angel Heart!

Julie Durrbeck
2 years ago

Love being a part of this organization, so rewarding.

Sara P
2 years ago

Project Angel Heart is an awesome organization ! I love working with them and seeing the difference they make in the community.

Trevor McLaren
2 years ago

Great to be able to volunteer with Project Angel Heart.

Joel Oubre
2 years ago

What an incredible organization that is delivering so much good to our community.

Ellie
2 years ago

Good luck to this wonderful organization.

Jeff
2 years ago

Thanks CCIG and Project Angel Heart! Great work.

Jeff Bontrager
2 years ago

Way to go, Project Angel Heart!

Kathie G
2 years ago

What a great way to make a difference in the world. Go CCIG!

Margaret Dioguardi
2 years ago

Impressive effort by CCIG to support Project Angel Heart – a truly amazing organization

Tracey
2 years ago

What a great way to give back!

Elizabeth Mason
2 years ago

Project Angel Heart is an amazing organization that makes a difference in so many people’s lives. I am proud to be a supporter of them

Cady Valentine Gerwig
2 years ago

Project Angel Heart is such an amazing place! Incredible people doing incredible work!

Carolyn James
2 years ago

The extent of the impact that Project Angel Heart has on servicing a vulnerable community is inspiring.

diane jensen Rearick
2 years ago

Such a worthy cause, Good luck getting to the vote count you need!

Joe McComb
2 years ago

Thanks to all those who are supporting Project Angel Heart through their donations, volunteering, commenting, and sharing!

Jeff Cortez
2 years ago

Loved the volunteering opportunities with Project Angel Heart and looking forward to many more!

Chuck Townsend
2 years ago

Great Organization!

Chase S.
2 years ago

Great Organization, Great Cause! and look forward to volunteering here more often now that we have our Vaccines

Steven Haden
2 years ago

Project Angel Heart makes a big difference to thousands of people. Our community is grateful for everything they do.

Shannon W
2 years ago

What a wonderful cause to be a part of. Congratulations!

Kevin R.
2 years ago

Thank you CCIG for your support! Food is medicine!

Rae
2 years ago

Love this!

Michael Force
2 years ago

Project Angel Heart is an amazing organization with an inspiring mission! Thanks CCIG for supporting them!

Leah
2 years ago

Love their work!

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