Many of the families we support struggle to afford food. Their caring responsibilities often force them to give up work, leaving little money for basic necessities. Many sell their land to afford medical treatment, leaving little space to grow their own crops. Often patients not only face illness but also hunger. In early 2025, our hospice partners reported that, on average, 50% of their patients lacked enough food, in some areas the need was even higher. Yet with limited funds, they could only help a fraction of those in need.
Good nutrition is vital for people receiving palliative care. It helps patients stay strong, fight infections, tolerate treatments like chemotherapy, and reduces nausea when taking essential pain relief like morphine. But for many families, simply putting food on the table is a daily challenge.
That’s why, along with providing free palliative care, we have initiated a small project with Meru Hospice to help families grow their own food at home. By providing training, seedlings and materials, we are helping families set up small vertical gardens at home, allowing them to grow fresh vegetables in a small space – even in areas where land is scarce. Large, soil and compost filled sacks are provided to patients and their families, who are then supported to plant up the top and sides of the sack with vegetables seedlings, quickly growing a nourishing garden.
A small nursery has been set up at Meru Hospice where volunteers are raising vegetable seedlings like spinach, kale and amaranthus (a spinach-like leaf and a grain), to supply to families, ensuring patients have access to nutritious food.
~Nurse Gladys, Meru Hospice
This project is helping more families not only feed their loved one but also build a sustainable food source for the future, and has been made possible with donations from our supporters in the UK. We hope to expand this project into more hospices across Kenya to bring hope and nourishment to more families caring for someone with a life-limiting illness. Please support this project by donating today. Thank you.