As an opera singer and record producer, Andrew Gauthier had a long and successful career in New York's theater and entertainment community. In 1997, things started to change. Andrew began to experience debilitating back pain and other health issues that eventually left him disabled.

"The sense of hopelessness by 2009 was overwhelming," said Gauthier, 64. "The depression I've gone through over the years in this constant pain. Then a counselor mentioned calling God's Love and they helped me right away."

God's Love We Deliver is a New York City area provider of nutritious meals to people who are too sick to shop or cook for themselves. The God's Love kitchen prepares more than 5,000 meals each weekday and those meals are delivered by a fleet of Ford Econoline vans and a Ford Transit Connect Mobile Food Pantry.

"We're the end of the road, the final safety net for our clients," said David Ludwigson, chief development officer, God's Love We Deliver. "Without us they would not have food, and without organizations like Ford, we couldn't do what we do."

All of the services at God's Love are provided free of charge. They employ a team of registered dietitians who tailor meals to each client's specific medical requirements. They prepare various chicken dinners, vegetarian dishes, different kinds of soups, fresh fruit & vegetables, breads and even desserts. The hot food is flash frozen, delivered and ready to be heated up and eaten.

"The people are fantastic, so lovely," added Gauthier. "I never get a sense that this is a bother."

Each year, God's Love also utilizes the essential services of nearly 8,000 volunteers, including members of the Ford Volunteer Corps. Ford and God's Love have a partnership that stretches back more than 15 years.

At God's Love We Deliver, there is a strong belief that nutritious food is medicine. For the people who depend on God's Love, it's food for the body and the mind.

"I open the door and say to myself I'm so lucky to have this. It literally saved my life," said Gauthier. "I never knew that Ford had donated anything to God's Love, and I think it's just fantastic."

"Being sick and hungry is a crisis that needs immediate response," said Ludwigson, "and that's what we do."

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