WASHINGTON — For the 18th year, the Thanksgiving spirit is being spread in a big way with a community-wide fundraising event called Slice of Life by Food & Friends.
The goal this year -- to sell 6,000 pies for the holiday that is now two days away. With each sale, a full day of freshly prepared, home-delivered, medically tailored meals are provided for someone with a life-challenging illness. The proceeds from this year's sale, and corporate support, will help provide more than 1.9 million medically tailed meals for 5,000 adults and children throughout the D.C.-region in 2023.
Food & Friends is the only community-based organization in the area providing these meals for people in the area with serious illnesses, along with their caregivers and dependents.
“Slice of Life is a joyful tradition and a great way for the entire community to get involved. The pies from Whisked Bakery are the best in D.C., and by purchasing your Thanksgiving pies through Slice of Life, you can support the health and nutrition of adults and children trying to manage life-challenging illnesses. Selling pies is also a wonderful way to include your coworkers, friends, and family,” said Carrie Stoltzfus, executive director of Food & Friends.
Whisked by Jenna, an award-winning, local, woman-owned bakery, is the official pie partner for Slice of Life. The pie flavors offered are apple, pumpkin, sweet potato, pecan, and a sea salt chocolate chess pie. Corporate or group teams and individuals sell pies that will be picked up Tuesday at pickup sites across the region.
"Food & Friends is keeping pace with record demand for medically tailored meals in 2023, while still dealing with the strain of high food costs," Food & Friends said in a news release on Oct. 10. "Support for Slice of Life is critical in meeting the needs of vulnerable families facing life-challenging illnesses and economic hardships."
They continued by stating that no one with a serious illness should have to choose between nutritious foods and fundamental needs -- such as medicine.