We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Andrew Fitzgerald. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Andrew below.

Andrew, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?

In the short few years of creating Food for the Cure there have been sad and happy stories that have occurred. But one that warmed my heart the most to hear to this date. One of our cancer patients was battling lung cancer for a while now and wasn’t having the results they were hoping for taking their chemo treatments. It had turned out that this particular cancer was immune to the chemo that was given. They didn’t lose hope and kept their head high as they fought for a brighter future, they had switched over to a full organic diet for a while now in hopes to help their body fight the cancer. Food for the Cure being so small could only supplement their diet with what we grew but, they were always thankful for what we could deliver. As time went on check-up after check-up a miracle started to happen. The cancer that once had stood its ground in the face of their chemo treatments had somehow started to shrink! It warmed my heart to hear that with their battle with cancer they were starting to win. With cancer it’s not always that way unfortunately. One can eat organic food and be healthy as an ox and still lose a battle with cancer. It felt great to be able to help someone on their journey and battle with cancer. I am no hero or anything like such but, I do the best I can to volunteer my time to make Food for the Cure the best nonprofit that grows and donates organic food to cancer patients in the Kansas City Metro Area.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For myself the battle with cancer started long before I ever dreamt of Food for the Cure. It started when my mother was diagnosed with Bile Duct Cancer. At the time this type of cancer was a terminal sentence with an unknown time stamp. She didn’t fight to extend her life for her but, for the loved ones that surrounded her with love and hope while she fought her cancer. As time went on, I noticed that due to the medical bills she simply couldn’t afford organic food even though that would be her best healthy choice to help in her battle to extend her life. To make things worse her and my father made just enough money to not receive any assistance. I was lucky enough to be able to spend time with her due to my back disability. For that time, I will always cherish. She unfortunately passed December of 2016. From there it was always in the back of my mind to create a nonprofit that could fill the gap that not even foodbanks can fill due to them not carrying the healthy organic foods a cancer patient needs to eat. So as time went on, I had gotten divorced, moved in with my father, fought depression, and started my life all over again, I eventually found my true love, Molly who lived in Kansas City. She encouraged me to start the idea of a nonprofit that turned into Food for the Cure. I had gathered a small crew that allowed us to create Food for the Cure. We went through the complete process and became an official 501(c)(3) public charity. From there we have been lucky enough to get just enough donations to run our small 48×30 foot garden dedicated to growing organic food for cancer patients. Our goals are to expand and grow as much organic food as possible and money to do so. This year we got a grant called the Rebuild KC Grant for $20,000. We are currently in the works to fundraise $20,000 so we can access that grant before 2024. With all that money we will purchase land to expand our growing capabilities. One day I hope Food for the Cure will have 100 or more acres so we can feed all our cancer patients organic food free of charge!

Cancer patients, volunteers, and possible donors can learn about all we do by visiting www.foodforthecure.org.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Being in the world of nonprofits you must have patience. I have learned that no matter what your nonprofit is fighting for you will always run into more no’s than yes’s. It took me a long time to figure this out. The key is not to get discouraged and have the patience required to fight through all the no’s and the I am not interested, so you can find the people that truly care for your cause. For those are the people you want to be by your side when fighting for a cause true to your heart.

We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.

For a nonprofit organization no one technically owns it, but it is run by a Board of Directors. For me I looked high and low to find people that were interested in starting a new nonprofit that grew organic foods for cancer patients. The best thing that worked for me thankfully was a post that I had placed on NextDoor. Which is a place where you and your neighbors can post just about anything. I had posted all about what I had envisioned and slowly went through the list of people who seemed interested in helping. Eventually I met Steve and Jen who not only gave funds to start the process of becoming a 501(c)(3), they became members of the board. Steve retired from the board at the end of 2021. Without him we couldn’t be where we are today. Jen is still on the board to this date as our Treasurer. Her hard work makes sure that all our finances are in order. Without a strong board your nonprofit won’t flourish. Always take the extra time to find really good people that care the way you do. That, time, and patience will take your nonprofit far.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.foodforthecure.org
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/foodforthecurekc
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/foodforthecure
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/foodforthecure

Image Credits
Molly Fitzgerald