BELTON, Texas — In a world where new motherhood can often feel isolating, one determined woman has stepped up to make a difference. One meal at a time.
Anissa Vest loves being a mom.
“I love to see the world through my kids’ eyes,” said Vest. They are all at different stages. I have a four-year-old, a two-year-old, and a three-month-old. They are all doing these crazy different things in their development and it’s so fun to be here to walk them through that.”
She admits she has experienced the struggles of postpartum depression.
“It’s kind of hard trying to balance a lot of things when you are adding kids, and you are kind of feeling up and down. I had a support system, and I know there’s a lot of people here who don’t have a support system,” said Vest.
Vest felt compelled to make a difference. She started a Facebook group and founded Meal Menders; a compassionate group of volunteers dedicated to delivering home cooked meals to new moms facing similar challenges.
“The goal is to provide these nourishing meals to help mend them physically, maybe mentally and emotionally, depending on where they are with their illness or postpartum journey. I just thought meal menders was a good way to mend people one meal at a time,” said Vest.
They started taking online orders on September 9.
“The meal request asks if you have dietary restrictions and things like that,” said Vest. Once we get that based on whatever the answers are, we deliver a meal based on what needs they have.”
All meals are free, and delivered by volunteers who will take the food to the doorstep of a mom in need.
“A homemade meal can go so far. I know from my own experience with postpartum and I just want to be able to provide that for people in our community,” said Vest.
Meal Menders not only nourishes the bodies of moms, but also provides a vital source of connection and support.
If you want to help you can volunteer to make a freezer meal, or if you have extra pasta or canned beans you can donate them or donate to the Meal Menders by clicking here.