CHARLOTTE, NC – Food is medicine, and starting Feb. 1, Chef Sam Diminich and Your Farms Your Table Restaurant Group will bring that to fruition at HopeWay, a leading nonprofit mental health treatment organization in Charlotte. This groundbreaking collaboration will serve up seasonal, chef-driven, nutritious meals to HopeWay’s clients, guests and staff.

The Your Farms Your Table (YFYT) team will manage HopeWay’s 9,000-square-foot, in-house kitchen, providing breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks at the center’s 20-acre campus. Serving more than 100 meals daily, YFYT will emphasize fresh, local ingredients from its farm partners and fresh herbs grown on-site for menus designed to support clients’ diverse dietary and therapeutic needs.

“Food is integral to how we heal and connect, and it has quickly become apparent that the need for quality food in mental health facilities is high,” says Diminich, who made the connection to the healing powers of food through his own journey to sobriety. “In addition to nourishment, we hope our food provides a sense of comfort to HopeWay’s clients. We believe that food helps heal, and are honored to help carry that mission forward.”

Since 2022, the YFYT team has prepared more than 36,000 meals for those receiving inpatient recovery and psychiatric services at several facilities in Charlotte. Those meals are prepared off-site and delivered. The collaboration with HopeWay is part of the restaurant group's strategic growth. For the first time, more than five YFYT staffers will be embedded in an on-site kitchen, enabling Diminich’s team to employ dedicated chefs to craft meals and ensure each dish is created with care and intention.

“When nourished with good food, it transforms everything about us,” says Jill Vande Woude, CEO and partner of Your Farms Your Table. “We find gratification in the fact that a colorful, vibrant, farm-fresh meal can spark a moment of joy, connection and reprieve. We are honored to serve HopeWay’s clients during such a critical time in their healing journey, offering comfort through the power of food.”

HopeWay is energized by the inclusion of Diminich’s team, as the organization’s holistic, evidence-based model integrates nutrition into treatment. Clients spend time in the Learning Kitchen as part of HopeWay’s integrative therapy, building skills and confidence through hands-on meal preparation, group therapy and meeting with dietitians. 

Knowing that the food served on site aligns with what is taught in therapy is essential for recovery, reinforcing a consistent approach to healing through nutrition.

“Since opening in 2016, HopeWay has made nutrition in healing a priority. With some psychiatric medications affecting appetite or weight, the importance of balanced, nutritious meals with options for those with food sensitivities or allergies is vital in supporting recovery and overall well-being,” says Alyson Kuroski-Mazzei, DO, DFAPA, FASAM, CEO and Chief Medical Officer at HopeWay. “We are thrilled that Your Farms Your Table is committed to collaborating with our medical team, dietitians and therapists to ensure we deliver nourishment tailored to individual needs, allowing our clients to carry these skills and experiences into their lives beyond treatment.”

For more information about Your Farms Your Table’s community-centered initiatives, visit yourfarmsyourtable.com. For more information about HopeWay and its mental health services, visit hopeway.org. 

ABOUT YOUR FARMS YOUR TABLE RESTAURANT GROUP

Founded in 2020, Your Farms Your Table Restaurant Group, led by executive chef/owner Sam Diminich, provides a range of true farm-to-table experiences, including home-delivery meals, personal chef services, private culinary events, catering, institutional meal services and retail products. Restaurant Constance, the group’s first full-service restaurant, is dedicated to unifying the community at the table and sharing the stories of the local farmers and suppliers of the foods served. In 2023, Restaurant Constance was named Best New Restaurant in Charlotte by Charlotte Magazine. Diminich is the co-leader of the Charlotte chapter of Ben’s Friends, a nonprofit resource for food and beverage professionals who struggle with addiction and substance abuse. Diminich was triumphant on “Beat Bobby Flay” and named Charlottean of the Year in 2020, in addition to taking Best Chef honors from Charlotte Magazine in 2023, 2021 and 2020. YFYT’s mission is to make a positive impact on its people and place by proudly celebrating the bounty of the Carolinas. More details: yourfarmsyourtable.com.

ABOUT HOPEWAY
HopeWay, a Joint Commission-accredited nonprofit mental health treatment organization in Charlotte, N.C., serves clients from across the nation to help them find hope and healing. HopeWay meets the needs of those living with mental illness and their families through a continuum of care, including residential, day treatment, individual outpatient services, and evidence-based PTSD treatment for Veterans and First Responders, as well as after-care planning to help clients live healthy and fulfilling lives. HopeWay also provides services for adolescent mental health treatment and teen and young adult eating disorder treatment. To learn more, visit www.hopeway.org.