One of the things I have been thinking about a lot lately is how easy it is to stay stuck in our own little world. We get busy with work, kids, appointments, sports schedules, meal prep, stress, finances, social media, and just trying to survive the week that we forget there are families right here in Houston trying to figure out where their next meal is coming from. As a parent and nutrition professional, that reality hits me hard.
I spend my days talking about gut health, hormones, inflammation, meal planning, and long-term wellness. But for many families, the conversation is much more basic than that. It is simply, “How do I feed my kids this week?” And honestly, that perspective matters. It reminds me that nutrition is not just about optimization. It is also about access, community, and making sure people have their basic needs met first.
That is why this summer, Sky Therapeutics is bringing back our volunteer days with the Houston Food Bank, and I would love to get as many patients, friends, family members, students, and kids involved as possible.
Last year, our group received the Bronze Award for serving more than 116 volunteer hours together, which honestly made me so proud because it showed what can happen when people simply decide to show up. This year, our goal is to serve more than 200 hours, and I truly think we can do it if we build a bigger team.
We have officially selected our summer volunteer dates (click date to register):
All shifts will be from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Portwall warehouse location here in Houston.
The Houston Food Bank serves an 18-county area throughout southeast Texas and helps provide food to families across Houston and surrounding communities through thousands of community partnerships, pantries, schools, shelters, and programs. They are one of the largest food banks in the country and help support nearly one million people throughout the region every year. When you actually stop and think about that number, it is hard to even comprehend the level of need that exists around us every single day.
The work volunteers do inside the warehouse directly impacts families throughout our communities. Depending on the day, we may be sorting produce, packing food boxes, organizing donations, or preparing food for distribution. What I love about these volunteer shifts is that the work is simple, meaningful, and something almost anyone can participate in. You do not need a medical background. You do not need experience. You just need a willingness to help.
I especially want more kids involved this year. One of the biggest things I want my children to grow up understanding is that being healthy, successful, or educated means very little if we are not willing to use our time and energy to help other people too. Community matters. Service matters. Showing up matters.
Some of my favorite moments from last year were watching people from completely different backgrounds working side by side packing food together. Patients met each other outside of appointments. Friends brought their children. Conversations happened naturally. It reminded me that health is about so much more than supplements and lab work. It is also about human connection and taking care of each other.
The need for food banks has continued to grow over the past several years with inflation, rising grocery costs, natural disasters, and economic stress affecting so many families. Many people who never thought they would need help are now relying on food assistance programs to get through difficult seasons. That reality deserves compassion, not judgment.
If you have been looking for a way to give back this summer, I would genuinely love for you to join us. Come for one shift or all three. Bring your spouse, your kids, your coworkers, your gym friends, your church group, your teenagers who need volunteer hours, or just yourself. We are hoping to make an even bigger impact this year, and I truly believe small actions from a group of committed people can create something meaningful for our community.
If you would like to volunteer with us this summer pick your date(s) from below and click to register.
I hope to see a lot of familiar faces there this year.
Leave a Reply