AMOR Healing Kitchen

What AMOR Healing Kitchen does

AMOR Healing Kitchen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2017 by Maria Kelly and headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, that delivers free, organic, 100% plant-based meals to individuals in the Charleston tri-county area who are facing critical health challenges such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, neurological conditions, and post-surgical recovery. Its core service is the Single and Double Serving Plans, which provide five or ten ready-to-eat entrees weekly for an initial 12-week free period, accompanied by a printed menu, nutrition newsletter, and fresh flowers sourced from partner Roadside Blooms; meals are prepared at its single kitchen facility at 2 Magnolia Road using ingredients donated through Fields to Families, Charleston Parks Conservancy, and Cuisine Rescue, and delivered across 14+ zip codes spanning Johns Island, James Island, Downtown Charleston, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, Kiawah Island, and Sullivan's Island, with pickup available for clients outside the delivery zone.

The organization supplements its free client program with a portfolio of supporting products and content. Grab & Grow is a retail food line offering fresh-made frozen items, soups, salads, hummus, and ready-to-eat meals priced $5-$20, available through an online storefront, walk-in retail (Tuesday-Friday), and Friday delivery with a $25 minimum order. The AMOR Store sells branded apparel, tote bags, cookbooks, and wellness books, while the Healing Hearts Monthly Membership ($5+/month) converts episodic donors into recurring supporters. Educational programming includes a library of free cooking class videos (Carrot Dogs, Coconut Curry, Eggplant Marinara, Sweet Potato Fritters, etc.) taught by Culinary Director Mimi Kozma, who is ServeSafe Certified and a Certified Food for Life Instructor. Community pillars include the Teen Chef program, which trains high school students in culinary and leadership skills, and adult volunteer roles spanning Kitchen Mentor, Kitchen Volunteer, and Delivery Angel.

AMOR's revenue model is a hybrid of donations and earned income, entirely free of equity or venture capital funding. Primary inflows come from one-time donations ($25-$1,000 tiers via Charity Proud), the recurring Healing Hearts Membership, Grab & Grow retail and online food sales, AMOR Store merchandise sales, and proceeds from community fundraising events including the annual AMOR Fest and the April 2026 AMOR Garden Party. The organization relies on a volunteer-led go-to-market motion, with client acquisition driven by healthcare provider referrals (notably through its American Cancer Society Client Resource partnership), word-of-mouth from prior clients, earned media in regional outlets (Post and Courier, Fox 24, Edible Charleston, Charleston Magazine, Live 5 News), and a Rachel Ray Feed It Forward national award that anchors brand credibility. Leadership comprises five full-time-equivalent roles (Founder/ED Maria Kelly, Culinary Director Mimi Kozma, Operations Manager Samantha Gibson, Program Coordinator Kate Mester, and Kitchen Manager Becca Bowser), supported by an independent Board of Directors and Advisory Board.

Name

AMOR Healing Kitchen

Legal name

AMOR Healing Kitchen

Website

https://amorhealingkitchen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AMOR Healing Kitchen is a Charleston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free, organic, plant-based meals to individuals facing critical health challenges across the Lowcountry, while training teen volunteers and diversifying revenue through Grab & Grow retail, an online store, and the Healing Hearts monthly membership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Meal Delivery Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Meal Preparation & Nutrition Support (Non-Medical) (HSABAAAC)

Keywords

• Plant-based meal delivery
• Nonprofit meal services
• Culinary volunteer programs
• Healing-focused nutrition
• Community food support

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream from individual donors making one-time or recurring donations. Donation amounts range from $25 to $1,000+ with options for monthly, quarterly, or yearly recurring gifts.
2. Healing Hearts Monthly Membership: Monthly recurring donations starting at $5/month. Members receive seasonal recipes, program updates, early event access, and kitchen tours.
3. Grab & Grow Program Sales: Sale of fresh-made frozen items, ready-to-eat meals, hummus, salads, soups, desserts, and prepared foods through walk-in purchases or online ordering for pickup/delivery.
4. AMOR Store Merchandise: E-commerce sales of branded merchandise including t-shirts, tanks, sweatshirts, hats, tote bags, sweat bands, as well as cookbooks and wellness books.
5. AMOR Fest Event: Annual fundraising event with sponsorship opportunities for local businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AMOR Healing Kitchen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that prepares and delivers free weekly organic, 100% plant-based meals to individuals facing critical health challenges (cancer, heart disease, diabetes, neurological conditions, post-surgery recovery) across the Charleston, SC Lowcountry area. The organization also operates a volunteer-powered teen culinary training program, a retail Grab & Grow program selling prepared and frozen plant-based foods, an e-commerce store for branded merchandise, and fundraising events.

Product overview

AMOR Healing Kitchen operates as a nonprofit meal service organization offering multiple interconnected programs. The core service is the client meal delivery program (Single and Double Serving Plans) providing free weekly plant-based meals to individuals facing critical health challenges. The Grab & Grow retail program extends meal access to the broader community through frozen items and ready-to-eat foods. Supporting revenue streams include the AMOR Store (branded merchandise and cookbooks), Healing Hearts Monthly Membership (recurring donations), and Gifts of Goods & Services (in-kind donations). Educational programming through cooking class videos and volunteer programs (Teen Chef and Adult Volunteer) form the community empowerment pillar, while events like AMOR Fest and the AMOR Garden Party serve as annual fundraising initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grab & Grow: Program offering fresh-made frozen items, ready-to-eat meals, soups, veggie patties, and online ordering for pickup or delivery.
• AMOR Store
• AMOR Fest
• Healing Hearts Monthly Membership

Products and services

• Single Serving Plan Free weekly delivery of 5 ready-to-eat, whole food, plant-based entrees for 12 weeks to individuals facing critical health challenges. Includes printed menu, nutrition newsletter, and fresh flowers. Delivered Fridays within the Charleston Lowcountry service area.
• Double Serving Plan Free weekly delivery of 10 ready-to-eat, whole food, plant-based entrees for 12 weeks, serving both a client and their caregiver during a health challenge.
• Grab & Grow Program Retail food program selling fresh-made frozen items (brownies, soups, veggie patties), ready-to-eat meal bowls (Chipotle Bowl, Breakfast Bowl, Sesame Chickpeas), hummus, salads, gelato and sorbets. Available for walk-in purchase at the West Ashley kitchen or via online ordering with pickup and delivery (Friday delivery with $25 minimum).
• AMOR Store Online and in-store retail store selling branded merchandise (t-shirts, tanks, long sleeves, hats, tote bags, sweat bands), plant-based cookbooks and wellness books, Ripple Herbals salves, and canvas totes.
• Healing Hearts Monthly Membership Recurring monthly donation program with a $5/month minimum. Members receive seasonal recipes, program updates, early bird event access, and kitchen tours while supporting ongoing meal services.
• Gift to a Loved One Allows donors to gift meal delivery services to a loved one facing a health challenge. Includes 5 complete weekly meals, a printed menu, and fresh flowers delivered over the course of the program.

Quantifiable outcome

• First 12 weeks of meal program provided free to eligible clients
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Fields to FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal produce donations directly from farmers to AMOR Healing Kitchen, supporting the organization's ability to source fresh, local ingredients for client meals.
• American Cancer SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesignated as a Client Resource for AMOR, providing referrals and support for cancer patients seeking nutritious meal assistance during treatment.
• Charleston Parks ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly organic produce donations from Charleston Parks Conservancy supporting AMOR's commitment to using organic, locally-sourced ingredients.
• Dragon BoatmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly volunteer support and community partnership providing volunteer assistance for kitchen operations and meal preparation.
• Trident United WaymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting AMOR's mission and operations in the Lowcountry region.
• The Ripple FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit workspace provider and community partner supporting AMOR's organizational infrastructure.
• Les DamesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient referral partner helping connect individuals facing health challenges with AMOR's meal services.
• Empower CharlestonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity resource and partner providing support and referrals for AMOR's programs.
• Cuisine RescuemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates rescued food with non-profits to distribute to food-insecure populations, supporting AMOR's mission.
• Laddaga and GarrettminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLawrence Laddaga, Esq. FHFMA provides legal services for the healthcare industry, supporting AMOR's organizational compliance and operations.
• Roadside BloomsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService floral design studio providing flowers included with AMOR's meal deliveries, using local and seasonal inspiration in arrangements.
• Camp Happy DaysminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting AMOR's mission to serve individuals facing health challenges.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ceres Community Project: California nonprofit that prepares and delivers free, organic, plant-based meals to people facing serious illness, with a strong teen volunteer training component. Mirrors AMOR's plant-based positioning and youth volunteer model almost exactly.
• Community Servings: Boston-area nonprofit providing medically tailored meals to individuals and families living with critical illness. Comparable to AMOR in food-as-medicine model and home delivery to medically vulnerable clients.
• Project Open Hand: San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit providing meals and groceries to seniors and individuals with critical illness. Comparable to AMOR in mission (medically tailored nutrition for the critically ill) and nonprofit community-meal delivery model.
• Food & Friends: Washington D.C. nonprofit delivering meals and groceries to people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses. Closely aligned with AMOR's mission of medically tailored home meal delivery for the critically ill.
• Mama's Kitchen: San Diego nonprofit delivering medically tailored meals to individuals affected by cancer, HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses. Direct analog to AMOR's free-meal-for-the-sick model with similar target population.
• God's Love We Deliver: NYC-based nonprofit that cooks and home-delivers medically tailored meals to people living with serious illness, including cancer, HIV/AIDS and cardiovascular disease. Closest direct peer to AMOR's healing-focused meal delivery model, though operating at much larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Meals on Wheels America: National nonprofit network delivering meals to seniors and at-risk populations across thousands of U.S. communities. Comparable to AMOR's home-delivery meal model but with a much broader senior-focused mandate rather than AMOR's healing/clinical niche.

Others

• Food Recovery Network: Student-led nonprofit recovering surplus food and donating it to communities in need. Related ecosystem player; AMOR uses similar food-recovery partnerships through Cuisine Rescue.
• The Plantrician Project: Nonprofit promoting whole-food, plant-based nutrition for disease prevention and treatment. AMOR retails its publications and shares the plant-based nutrition mission, making it a thematic ally rather than direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Wholesome Wave Foundation: National nonprofit addressing food insecurity through nutrition incentive programs and produce prescriptions. Adjacent to AMOR in connecting nutrition to health outcomes but focuses on affordability/access rather than meal preparation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AMORHealingKitchen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amor-healing-kitchen-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AMOR Healing Kitchen