St. Joseph Community Health Foundation

22/07/2025

Retirement, New CEO Search

The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation’s Executive Director, Meg Distler, has advised the Board of Directors that she will retire in December 2025. Distler has served as the ministry’s top executive since 1998, when it was reorganized with some of the proceeds of the sale of St. Joseph Medical Center.

Annually, the St. Joe Foundation collaborates with approximately 100 local nonprofits to ensure that quality resources and services are available to vulnerable individuals with limited financial means. This ministry focuses on prenatal and infant care, immigrant and refugee support, nutrition and food insecurity, and access to affordable health and wellness care.

“Leading a ministry inspired by Saint Katharina Kasper with the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ has been a wonderful opportunity. I have been blessed to work alongside many amazing people who care deeply about our community,” stated Distler.

The Board of Directors of the St. Joe Foundation has formed a search committee and engaged KB Search to assist in guiding the transition. The search committee will begin accepting applications on July 21, 2025, via Rhonda Dove at rdove@kbsearchteam.com. Dr. Joe Muhler, immediate past chair of the Board of Directors, serves as chair of the search committee. Board Chair Bill Ehinger advised, “The Foundation’s Board of Directors is immensely grateful to Meg for her leadership and stewardship of the ministry. We are committed to continuing this work into the future.”

Applications will be accepted through September 1, 2025.

Learn more at: https://tinyurl.com/27zr5md9

22/07/2025

We are excited to share information about the 6th Annual Local Food Week, hosted by our community partners at the Northeast Indiana Local Food Network, commencing this Friday, July 25th, and concluding on August 3rd. This 10-day celebration across our region features over 90 mostly free events including farm tours and local food events, providing an opportunity for attendees to engage with the individuals and establishments that cultivate, market, and serve local produce throughout Northeast Indiana. Local Food Week offers an excellent opportunity to connect with local farmers, gain insights into the origins of our food supply, support small family farms and producers, and foster community engagement. We invite you to participate in celebrating the farms, markets, restaurants, and other local food businesses that bring local food from Our Land to Our Tables.

You can find the full 10 day calendar of events on their website at https://www.neifood.org/news/local-food-week-2025

Participate in the discussion and share photos on their fb event page, https://www.facebook.com/share/1GuhrAHDGC/

https://www.neifood.org/news/2025-local-food-week-companion-guide

Check out the 2025 Local Food Week Companion Guide for an At-a-Glance overview of over 90 local food events and farm tours hosted by 55 different farms, markets, producers, restaurants and organizations for our 6th Annual Local Food Week celebration happening July 25 through August 3 all across Nort

15/07/2025

The Fall 2025 Our HEALing Kitchen (OHK) Summer Session grant applications are now open! This "Train-the-Trainer" program empowers organizations like yours to teach healthy, affordable cooking to low-income or vulnerable individuals in your community. With the OHK curriculum, developed by Parkview dietitians, you can host 6–8 engaging cooking and nutrition classes for 8–12 participants.

As a facilitator, you'll receive comprehensive training, coaching, and all necessary materials to lead impactful sessions. Participants will benefit from a full-color guide featuring over 200 pages of recipes and nutrition tips. Grants ranging from $500 to $1,500 are available to cover food, equipment, and class celebrations.

Applications are open from July 15 to August 15, 2025. Don’t miss this chance to make a difference!

A "garden-to-kitchen" curriculum that provides knowledge and skill-building to increase fruit and vegetable selection, preparation, and consumption.

11/07/2025

10/07/2025

We are equally proud to partner with St. Vincent de Paul and their work caring for so many individuals.

We are incredibly grateful to the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation for their generous $20,000 grant in support of our Food and Nutrition Program. 💙

Thanks to their support, we’re able to expand access to nutritious food with dignity, compassion, and care. This funding helps us continue to fight food insecurity in our community by providing healthy groceries, fresh produce, warm meals, and food vouchers to neighbors in need.

08/07/2025

We are so excited to have the privilege of supporting such a vibrant launch to the 2025 HEAL Farm Markets! Stop by for delicious affordable produce.

02/07/2025

🍽️ Calling all aspiring home chefs! 🍅

We’re excited to launch Our HEALing Kitchen classes in July. Join us for 6 weeks of hands-on cooking class hosted at Wellspring and led by our registered dietitian through our Nutrition Program! Classes will be held on Tuesdays at 11am starting July 17th.

Whether you’re looking to cook healthier meals, stretch your grocery budget, or just gain confidence in the kitchen—this class is for YOU!

What you’ll get:
👩‍🍳 Practical cooking skills
🥗 Tips for healthy eating
💰 Meals that won’t break the bank
🛍️ A FREE bag of fresh produce after each class

📅 Must commit to at least 5 out of 6 classes plus a special Celebration Day to wrap it all up!

Spots are limited—don’t miss this opportunity to nourish your body and your skills. See the flyer for all the details on how to register or call 422-6618.

Our HEALing Kitchen class series is made possible thanks to our funder St. Joseph Community Health Foundation. Thank you!

28/06/2025

Counting down to HEAL markets on July 7th? Great news! While you wait, you can stretch your SNAP benefits even further TODAY with Double Up Indiana! Get FREE fruits and veggies at participating farmers markets and grocery stores – up to a $20 match per day. Start saving now and bring home more healthy goodness!

Visit www.DoubleUpIndiana.org to find a location near you.

29/05/2025

Saint Katharina Kasper’s devotion to the poor sparked a mission that reshaped Fort Wayne’s health framework, founding hospitals and orphanages that still inspire today. The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation carries her legacy forward, serving our community’s most vulnerable. Read her story:

“If you think about it, the Poor Handmaids were busting through glass ceilings before anyone had coined the term. Before women even had the right to vote, the Poor Handmaids were basically CEOs of orphanages, hospitals, and educational systems, and t

21/04/2025

It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Pope Francis, a true servant of faith. His unwavering love for God and humanity, profound humility, and inspiring commitment to honoring the dignity of every person will continue to inspire us for years to come.

20/04/2025

Happy Easter from St. Joseph Community Health Foundation! May the joy of Christ's resurrection fill us with hope and inspire us to share His love. Reflecting on Jesus’ promise - ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full’ - let us extend compassion and generosity to those in need, spreading the fullness of life to others.