Giving Back to Fit and Food Connection

The Fit and Food Connection (FAFC) encourages participation across the broadest possible spectrum of economic levels in northern St. Louis. Since 2013, FAFC has provided assistance to bring food and fitness together with group and individual fitness classes, nutrition programs, emergency groceries, food pantry, and community gardening opportunities. The connection of food provision, lifestyle programming and coaching, and education is a dynamic solution to address general poverty's impact on health. Joy Millner and Gabrielle Cole (pictured on left) co-founded this great organization.

Before they were introduced to each other in 2013, Gabrielle and Joy were both giving back in their own small ways, trying to create smiles, and make a difference. Gabi started feeding people for free in her childhood community in North St. Louis City. Joy was providing fitness and nutrition classes to those in need in northern St. Louis —getting people moving and empowered. They decided to pool their resources and affect more people with health and wellness, and that's how The Fit and Food Connection was founded.

Currently, FAFC operates five programs with the help of approximately 50 volunteers from all over the United States, and even the world.

1. Food Assistance

FAFC’s food assistance program provides healthy food deliveries to those in need in northern St. Louis city and county. In the St. Louis area, over 20% of households hold high ranking of food instability, according to the 2013 Missouri Hunger Atlas Data Report. This program benefits low income families, senior citizens, and the disabled who deal with food insecurity in their daily lives. Volunteers devote weekends to pick up food from their partners and deliver groceries to families needing assistance. This weekly food assistance delivery program provides healthy food to those who would not normally be able to afford it, allowing the opportunity to change their eating habits and their lives for the better.

2. Community Garden

The community fresh food garden brings community gardeners, nonprofit and corporate partners, and the team together to grow and harvest fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs as a resource to the food deserted community that FAFC serves.

3. Group Fit

Group fit offers a variety of fitness classes for lower income individuals between the ages of 18 and 70. Examples of past and current programming includes a boot camp style interval class, yoga, Aqualates, Pilates, and gyrokinesis, a stretching and exercise class benefiting the movement of the spine.

4. Group Nutrition Seminar

Seminars provide a variety of health and wellness education including cooking demonstrations, mindful eating, grocery shopping education, food preparation, small changes that yield big results, and eating fast food the healthy way to name a few.

5. One-on-One Fitness and Nutrition Coaching

This program provides both personalized fitness and nutrition consultations to those in need who would most benefit from this service. The program includes personal training sessions, individualized nutrition guidance.

We hope FAFC's work has inspired you to support their work through us. We look forward to welcoming you, your families & friends to our South Grand store from 11AM-8PM (or to our online shop 24/7) from Tuesday, September 19 to Friday, September 22. Your purchase of ethically sourced gifts will make a positive impact in FAFC's work in St. Louis. You Buy. We Donate!

If you are not ready to purchase at this time, please consider supporting The Fit and Food Connection directly. Become a volunteer today or make a tax-deductible donation of any amount. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU!

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