Food Equality Initiative, Inc.

FEI is a registered nonprofit that fights for nutrition security and health equality for all. At FEI, ‘Food is Medicine’ has two major faces.

Since 2014, Food Equality Initiative has been committed to ending hunger in the food allergy and celiac disease community. In 2022, we broadened our service to include all diet-treated illnesses and conditions, fully embracing the ‘Food is Medicine' movement. We believe that food is medicine to treat medical conditions such as food allergies, celiac disease, Crohn’s Disease, eosinophilic esophagit

is, hypertension, and more. But, we also believe food is medicine to prevent illness and improve overall health through the regular consumption of nutritious food, otherwise known as nutrition security. To recognize the potential of ‘Food is Medicine,’ FEI serves in three different ways.

1. We facilitate access to safe, healthy, free-from food by subsidizing a direct-to-door grocery delivery service for food insecure individuals and families.

2. We educate the public through the production of nutritionally focused educational materials, such as our magazine, podcast, and recipe guides.

3. And, we advocate for traditionally under-represented populations in healthcare on a regional and national scale. To do our work, FEI collaborates with and receives funding from healthcare providers, local and national nonprofit organizations, government agencies, schools, food manufacturers, and generous individual donors. FEI is a registered 501(c)(3). Our Founding History

Emily Brown's lifestyle abruptly changed when her two young children were diagnosed with severe food allergies. She went from carefree grocery shopping to reading every ingredient label on every food product she planned to purchase. She had to quit her day job to care for her daughters, since the daycare could not adequately provide safe, reliable services for their food allergies. This caused her financial standing to rapidly decline, and she found herself needing to enroll in federal assistance programs such as in Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in order to feed her family of four. During this sudden series of events, Emily asked herself why insurance does not cover the medicine needed to treat food allergies: free-from foods. In an interview with KCUR 89.3, Emily Brown said, “if we did not have these food allergies, we would not be in this situation. I am living this and I am still living this.”

In 2014, Emily decided to take matters into her own hands and founded Food Equality Initiative (FEI) to help families like hers gain access to free-from food. FEI started the first food pantry in the United States specifically stocked with foods required to maintain a Top-8 allergen-free and/or celiac diet; it included items such as gluten-free bread, almond milk, and sunflower seed butter. Since then, FEI has pivoted from the food pantry model to subsidizing a direct-to-door delivery service specifically for free-from foods, to further increase access and preserve the dignity of those needing assistance. We now also embrace the ‘Food is Medicine’ movement and advocate that regular access to nutritious foods improve the health of everyone, especially those with any diet-treated illness or condition. FEI invests in research and spreading knowledge about the importance of nutrition security. Our Mission

Food Equality Initiative fights for nutrition security and health equity for all. Our Vision

Our vision is a world where safe and nutritious food is accessible to everyone, regardless of dietary restrictions, race, or income.

Photos from Food Equality Initiative, Inc.'s post

03/08/2026

Volunteer opportunities! Complete the form here: https://www.foodequalityinitiative.org/volunteer

05/07/2025

Strategic planning for a strong, focused future. Thank you Tom Vansaghi and team and FEI board members!

05/06/2025

Our families receive nourishing food - and peace of mind.

05/05/2025

Kansas City has so many wonderful farmers' markets. Here is KCUR's curated list of a few of our favorites.

https://www.kcur.org/arts-life/2025-05-03/farmers-markets-kansas-city

04/21/2025

Every day, families managing conditions like celiac disease and diabetes face tough choices between their health and the food they can afford. At FEI, we provide nourishing foods to those in need—but we can't do it without your support.

Ways to Give:
👉One-time donation to make an immediate impact.
👉Join The Crew with a monthly gift of $25 or more.
👉Employer matching to double or triple your donation.
👉Planned giving for a lasting legacy.
👉Donor Advised Fund (DAF) grants.

Every contribution helps ensure that those at the intersection of food insecurity and diet-treated illnesses receive the nutrition they need.

👉 Learn more and give today: foodequalityinitiative.org/ways-to-give

03/31/2025

Thanks to everyone who join us at the Food for Health Summit and Market over the weekend!

03/25/2025

Food for Health Summit and Market is this weekend! Join us and this amazing group of speakers starting at 9am this Saturday. March 29th at 6425 Wornall Rd. This event is free to attend. We hope to see you there.

03/14/2025

You're invited to the Food for Health Summit and Market on Saturday, March 29th, at 9:30 a.m. Learn about food and your health and purchase farm-fresh food. FEI is part of the Greater KC Food Policy Coalition, and we'd love to see you there!

03/13/2025

Would you have take 10 minutes to complete our strategic planning survey? We're trying to get a variety of stakeholder voices to get an idea of which direction people would like to see FEI move. With the recent major funding cuts for the purchase of fresh, local produce in KC, the need is huge right now.

Take the Survey Here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HW7B86

03/06/2025

🌱 “Very thankful for this service. It relieves a lot of stress off my shoulders knowing I can put food on the table and access affordable foods shipped to me!” 🍎📦

This is why we do what we do. 💙 At Food Equality Initiative, we believe that everyone deserves access to safe, nourishing food—no matter their dietary needs or financial situation.

For families managing a diet-treated condition, finding affordable, safe food can be overwhelming. But with our FIM HomeProgram, we’re making it easier for families to get the food they need, stress-free.

✨ Want to help provide relief for families facing food insecurity?
💙 Donate today to support our mission: https://foodequalityinitiativeinc-bloom.kindful.com/embeds/4f70a8c2-adae-4332-8635-7530c86ec833

02/11/2025

Clients enrolled in our FIM Home Program get a delivery of fresh, local produce twice per month. This month we were also able to provide farm-fresh eggs thanks to our partner at .

02/06/2025

As we enter the second month of a new year, many of us hope to maintain the momentum of our new year’s resolution to eat healthier. So often we make fanciful goals to “never eat sugar again,” “only eat home-cooked meals,” or “follow a strict diet” that we are bound to fail to meet the mark. This year, let’s talk about ways we can set ourselves up for success; turning wishes into habits.

Read More>>> https://www.foodequalityinitiative.org/blog/healthy-habits-for-heart-health

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Location

Lenexa

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Telephone

(816) 800-0884

Website

http://www.foodequalityinitiative.org/

Address

10000 Marshall Drive
Lenexa, KS
66215

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 1pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm