Healthy Meals at WLP
Food is a basic necessity of life, and sharing a meal with others is one of the most effective bridges to relationship building.
VISIT WLP FOR A MEAL | SPONSOR A MEAL
Hours: 7AM - 2PM
Breakfast: 8AM - 10:30AM
Lunch: 12PM - 2:00PM
We believe all people should have access to healthy food. WLP provides three nutrition-packed meals six days a week to over 2,200 women annually.
Our Healthy Meals program prepared and served 139,003 meals in FY24, a record number for our organization. We are immensely proud of this accomplishment, especially considering our survey results, which show that 75% of our guests are food insecure, 61% rely on WLP for most of their meals, and 89% like the quantity and quality of food served at lunch.
Women’s Lunch Place is proud to be an Environmental Partner of 1% for the Planet. Learn more about our sustainability work here.
Hunger and food insecurity continue to increase at an alarming rate within our community. WLP’s Healthy Meals program has evolved to directly respond to this need––we serve breakfast, lunch, and healthy snacks, providing much-needed hunger relief and health benefits.
You can sponsor a breakfast or lunch at WLP to honor or remember a loved one at any time of year. Your sponsorship can be dedicated as a thoughtful gift for birthdays, memorials, or just to thank a friend and provide nutritious, healthy meals for hundreds of women a day.
Women’s Lunch Place believes that access to healthy nutrition is a human right, and the Healthy Meals program reflects this core value. Food insecurity is common for guests, and most rely on WLP as their primary source of hunger relief. WLP provides three meals per day: breakfast and lunch are served restaurant-style, brought to guests seated at tables, and a third meal is offered through the Takeaway Dinner program.
When a guest is hungry, it is nearly impossible for her to take a clear look at the obstacles in front of her. Even simple tasks can be difficult to accomplish, and complicated issues can seem impossible. WLP’s nutritious meals are consistent, satisfying, delicious, and culturally diverse. Vegetarian alternatives, fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy grains, and lean proteins are incorporated into each day’s menu. WLP is a “scratch” kitchen, preparing every meal with fresh ingredients, including herbs from an on-site garden.
The Healthy Meals program prepared and served 139,003 meals in FY24, a record number for the organization and a 23% increase from FY23. WLP is proud of this accomplishment, which demonstrates that the Healthy Meals team has continued to meet the increased need for hunger relief in the community.
WLP purchases fresh fish, produce, and dairy from local providers to reduce its reliance on national food conglomerates. Donations from local farms, gardens, and food recovery groups supplement these purchases. Guests enjoy tending an on-site herb garden and a garden at the Dudley Greenhouse. WLP makes vegetable soups that are nutritious and practical for elderly guests or those with poor dental health.
WLP delivers over 300 hundred healthy meals each week to partners across the city, including St. Mary's Center for Women and Children and Victory Programs. Any leftover meals and food items are distributed to a nearby food pantry.
The Healthy Meals team works in partnership with the Wellness program to increase overall food security and find permanent solutions by reviewing eligibility for SNAP benefits, About Fresh, local food pantries, and other vital resources. Individual counseling and cooking classes teach guests how to maximize their benefits and prepare nutritious meals at home.
The creation of an inclusive and welcoming community begins with providing culturally diverse food. In celebration of the diversity of its guests, WLP has introduced a “Cultural Café” which incorporates signature recipes from the countries and cultures of its community. Guests can submit ideas for WLP’s creative kitchen staff to consider, and the Healthy Meals team enjoys cooking some of their most beloved dishes.