Mission Statement
Through the Meal From The Heart initiative, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Guarino family prepares and delivers homemade, donor-signed meals to deserving and underserved community members across Chicago.
Pictured: The Guarino Family preparing to deliver a homemade meal care package
History
What started as “let’s cook a pan of stuffed shell pasta” for a hardworking family friend and nurse at Northwestern Hospital who had been bravely working 5x shifts/week on the frontline to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, quickly escalated to “let’s raise $10,000 and cook 1,000 homemade meals to frontline healthcare workers across Chicago.”
In an instant (and over a plate of pasta, of course), The Meal From The Heart initiative was born. Our passion for making homemade food and pasta is deeply rooted in our family history and we want others to experience the fulfillment that a fresh meal embodies.
The Guarino family raised $12,000 and cooked 1,200 homemade, donor-signed meals to +15 Chicagoland hospitals in April & May of 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals that received +30 meal care packages included: Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Advocate Christ Medical Center, West Suburban Medical Center, Advocate Condell Medical Center, Advocate Trinity Hospital, AMITA Alexian Brothers, John J Stroger Cook County Hospital, Rush Oak Park Hospital, Elmhurst Hospital, Community First Medical Center, Northwestern Central DuPage, Rush University Medical Center, Resurrection Medical Center, Advocate Lutheran, and more.
Pictured: Rocco and Valentina Guarino receiving a homemade pasta lesson from their grandmother, Nonna Lucia, in Montescaglioso, Italy circa 2001.
Purpose
Vito and the Guarino family are no strangers to the miracles performed by our brave frontline healthcare workers. Over the past 20 years, Vito suffered 3 heart attacks and congestive heart failure. In 2017, he was blessed to receive a successful heart transplant. Through it all, we were shown unmatched care and compassion from incredible doctors, nurses, and the entire hospital staff at Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Advocate Christ Medical Center, and many home care services. Between hospital staff wheeling Vito's bed from one procedure room to the other, or even between the countless blood draws and medicine deliveries, we shared a bit about each other’s lives; many times sharing recipes with the promise to cook for each nurse one day. We are truly indebted to the frontline healthcare workers who saved Vito's life time after time, and supported the rest of our family with the reassurance of brighter days ahead. Thanks to them we stand – in front of the oven – ready to make good on our promise.
Pictured: Valentina caring for Vito as he recovers from his heart transplant in 2017.