Dialysis Food Program
The West Ohio Foodbank has created the Dialysis Food Program to serve patients with kidney and renal failure with healthy food boxes to assist in their diet related condition, through an on-site medically tailored grocery distribution.
Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Weight Management Solutions
830 W High St. Suite 105B, Lima, OH 45801
How it works.
Patients may qualify for this program if they have been screened positive for food insecurity using the Hunger Vital Sign™ screening, have been diagnosed with kidney or renal disease, are of low-income status, and are of a more elderly population.
Food boxes are assembled with the assistance of a registered dietician of Lima Memorial Hospital. Food boxes are created specifically for patients with kidney failure and renal disease, to include products like lean meats, fresh produce, and low sodium shelf stable products to assist in their condition. Boxes are then distributed to patients’ homes every other week, after they receive their first box on-site upon referral into the program.
What You Need to Know
If you are a patient receiving dialysis and you have received a voucher from your doctor. Please make sure your name is clearly spelled before turning it into the West Ohio Food Bank. A staff member will bring you up a dry and freezer box. The dry and freezer boxes have strict nutritional and healthy choice foods put into them to help complement your diet while on dialysis.
Aaron's Story
Neighbor of the West Ohio Foodbank, and a recipient of the Dialysis Food Program, Aaron Brownlow, has been on the program since June 8th, 2022. Brownlow is able to pick up his tailored box of groceries from the West Ohio Food Bank once a month, and frequently opts in to home delivery.
“I originally heard about this program through Memorial Hospital, and was referred to the program by my dietician when I changed to St. Rita’s Hospital. This program gives me something to look forward to; getting healthy food so easily is a relief. These boxes make a huge difference in my life – I strive to live healthy, and it starts with what we put in our bodies. In dialysis, they stress how important proteins are to heal and help. I am grateful!”
– Aaron Brownlow, Lima OH, Recipient of the Dialysis Food Program
Helping our neighbors
“This program helps our neighbors who are going through dialysis treatment with items that their doctors recommend them to consume while going through treatment. In 5 years, I would want the hospitals to have dry storage, and a freezer storage unit to store these boxes. I would also like to see a greater variety of foods implemented into these boxes.”
Peace of mind
Another neighbor of the West Ohio Foodbank from Elida, Ohio, who was referred into the Dialysis Food Program by their dietician, has received healthy food boxes every month since November of 2023. They said that “overall, this program has helped my peace of mind getting healthy, good food, easily. This box helps me with food and my health. I have (access to more) food than before I was approved for this program. I would highly suggest this program to anyone on dialysis. I appreciate all the support I have gotten thus far with the West Ohio Food Bank. Thank you!”
Share your feedback
We love to hear how our programs have impacted lives. Please share with us your personal experience or feedback.