590. The Story of Culinary Care + How to Build an Engaged Community Around Your Mission - Courtney Johnson
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Overview
Meet Courtney. A fierce advocate and changemaker bringing comfort, connection, and care to families fighting cancer. At just 23, she turned her pain into purpose, founding Culinary Care after experiencing firsthand the impact of a meal during her dad’s battle with lung cancer. Fast forward 11 years, and her Chicago-based nonprofit has delivered over 40,000 free meals spreading hope, easing loneliness, and creating a sense of belonging 🍲We’re talking about lessons learned while founding an org, leaning into advocacy, and the power of community — all with actionable tips along the way. Tune in!
💡 Learn
Overview of Culinary Care
Lessons learned from founding a nonprofit
Leaning into advocacy within our organizations
Today’s Guest
Courtney Johnson, Founder, Culinary Care
“Don’t get caught up in feeling like the movements that you’re making aren’t doing anything if you’re not getting those immediate results. Just keep going. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. It’ll come full circle, I promise.”
Episode Transcript
Download Full Episode Transcript Here
Episode Highlights
Courtney’s story + journey to where she is today (3:15)
Culinary Care's mission + growth (7:55)
Challenges + lessons learned founding a nonprofit (13:45)
Finding people who are for the mission (25:15)
Lessons learned advocating for a mission (30:30)
A powerful moment of philanthropy in Courtney’s life (35:50)
Courtney’s One Good Thing: Put one foot in front of the other. (39:00)
How to support and connect with Culinary Care (41:30)
Powerful Quotes
"I always say the least you could do impacted my life so significantly that now we have changed 4,000 other lives because we are giving back and paying it forward." -Courtney
“It really does have a ripple effect when you show up, and that's at the heart of everything we do.” -Courtney
"We are not okay with how things are right now, which is hundreds and 1000s of cancer patients going in for treatment, skipping lunch because they've already paid for gas, they've already paid for parking, they're paying for all of their medical bills and doing all of these basic needs that lunch is just not on the table for them." -Courtney
"I think my biggest lesson is to never assume. For a very long time, I assumed that because cancer is so prevalent, doesn't everybody know that you don't get meals during treatment? Nope, that is not the case. The majority of people do not know." -Courtney
“You never know who is going to come to you and from where.” -Courtney
"Don't get caught up in feeling like the movements that you're making aren't doing anything if you're not getting those immediate results. Just keep going. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. It'll come full circle, I promise." -Courtney
“If it's not for Culinary Care, just give monthly to the causes you care about. Just give monthly.” -Courtney
“I would not be in these shoes and Culinary Care would not be where we're at today if it weren't for a lot of people giving advice and helping me along the way." - Courtney
“My story has gotten us through this first decade, and my story will continue to inspire people, but it really is about our donor story, our community story, our patient story.” -Courtney
How to connect with Courtney + Culinary Care
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Studio Selfie
Julie Confer, Jon McCoy, Courtney Johnson + Becky Endicott
