About Us

Our Story
The Poverello Center, Inc. was originally founded in 1987 by a dedicated group of volunteers interested in helping people hospitalized with AIDS. At the time, people were dying alone and rejected by society in large numbers with complications from AIDS. Today, Poverello continues helping the poor and sick to “eat well.” We now provide food as medicine to people with Cardiovascular and Kidney disease as well as those with Diabetes, Cancer or other Critical/Chronic illnesses. Each year more than 3350 families needing support come to the Poverello Center, Inc. to select medically tailored grocery items from our specialized menus and receive key nutritional information from our nutritionist.

As the best consumer choice, medically tailored and volunteer fueled grocery pantry in the country, Poverello also makes available without charge, medical nutrition therapy, wellness services and linkage into care services for people with HIV who have fallen out of primary medical care. We offer free take home HIV tests, onsite testing, linkage to PrEP and HIV care.

At our Live Well Center, Any program participant of the Eat Well Center or Be Well Programming may access our full service gym, chiropractic services, acupuncture or massage free of charge. The idea is to provide a safe, accepting place for people to receive support and complementary health services. Persons in the community who have clothing or household item needs and receive services from us are provided for from items donated by the community to our thrift store.