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More than a number, each meal represents comfort, care and a reminder that no one should face illness alone.
“Everybody starts as strangers, but they end as family to us,” said Amanda Anschutz, co-founder of Compassion Delivered. “Every meal we’ve served is completely free because someone believed in what we are doing and supported it.”
Eligibility is determined by diagnosis—not income or age.
“When you find out you’re dealing with a terminal disease, your world completely stops, and suddenly it’s just about getting through the day. Compassion Delivered is here to lighten the load,” Anschutz said.
Amanda and her husband, Daniel Anschutz—a culinary-trained chef—founded Compassion Delivered in 2017 after realizing people in their community were not receiving the assistance they needed.
“This is home, and it just makes sense to take care of home,” she said. “We’re called to come alongside people when the bottom of life falls out, to remind them they haven’t been forgotten.”
Each delivery includes three frozen entrees and two 16-ounce soups, made with care and dropped off every Friday.
“The meal gives us a way to show up, to help people through the most trying times of their life,” Anschutz said.
The camaraderie between volunteers and meal recipients is special. It can be deeply moving to sit down, learn about someone and let them know they’re not alone.
Even the brown paper bag the food comes in carries meaning. The tradition began when Amanda’s then 10-year-old daughter asked to draw on one. The recipient loved it, and something simple became something special.
Today volunteers from school-age children to nursing home residents decorate the bags with artwork and encouraging messages. “It’s just an ordinary brown bag,” Anschutz said. “It may seem small, but for our meal recipients, it’s a piece of joy they look forward to every week.”
In 2024, Compassion Delivered exceeded 50,000 meal deliveries.
Looking ahead, Compassion Delivered is focused on strengthening its impact and expanding its reach.
Compassion Delivered will host its Be the Change Annual Gala on Oct. 17, 2025, to share stories and celebrate the people behind the mission.
Amanda and Daniel are also developing a podcast, Compassion’s Table, to preserve the stories and voices that shaped the organization.
In addition, they are working toward a permanent space where people can cook, gather and grow.
“Everyone in our program has left a fingerprint on why this program exists,” Anschutz said. “It’s pretty incredible to witness that kind of connection right here in our own community.”
Visit www.compassiondelivered.org to learn more or to get involved.