When illness strikes, even the smallest everyday tasks can become overwhelming. With a donation of 200,000 kroner from Fonden Sol og Strand, founded by Margit and Kjeld, we can The Loving Meal continue our work of bringing nutritious meals – accompanied by a personal handwritten note – to families affected by serious illness or physical trauma.

– We are very grateful for the donation, which has a significant impact on our efforts. There is a lot of work involved in raising funds so that we can continue to deliver nutritious meals to families affected by illness, says the founder and director of Det Kærlige Måltid, Charlotte Thyberg.

In addition to ensuring meals for families in difficult life situations, Det Kærlige Måltid also focuses on supporting the many volunteers who carry out the efforts. About half of the volunteers are young people between 15 and 30 years old. They are part of a strong and meaningful community where they learn about cooking and health.

– It is not only important to provide good and nutritious meals. It is equally important that we create a safe community for the volunteers, says Charlotte Thyberg.

She estimates that about 20 percent of the young volunteers find themselves in life situations where their everyday lives are marked by worries, diagnoses, and social or mental vulnerability.

– Every week we see how volunteers chat about various topics, laugh together, learn from each other, and challenge each other. From this grows a sense of security, which for some of the young people can otherwise be a rare part of everyday life. At the same time, they experience that they are needed, and that their efforts make a real difference – and that they become part of a community that creates both well-being and meaning, says Charlotte Thyberg.

Calm about finances

In the kitchens in Aarhus, Aalborg, and Odense, people gather who want to make a concrete difference for others as they prepare and pack meals. The volunteer group ranges from Loving Cooks and Loving Preppers to volunteer health professionals who handle referrals, and Loving Deliverers, which delivers meals to families.

– We experience great support and currently have a waiting list for our volunteer groups, for which we are very grateful. However, this does not mean that we can simply help more families. To upgrade and expand our efforts requires more resources. My hope is that we can create a stronger financial foundation that allows us to focus on our core mission, says Charlotte Thyberg.

 The health clinic in Burkina Faso was set to close in February 2022, but Fonden Det Nytter has since been able to cover the operating costs.

• Det Kærlige Måltid is a nonprofit organization where volunteers prepare and deliver healthy and nutritious meals to individuals and families affected by life-threatening illness or physical trauma.
• The organization has branches in Aarhus, Aalborg, and Odense.
• The initiative provides families with a break in a difficult everyday life and simultaneously creates a safe and meaningful community for volunteers.
• A significant part of the work is based on the use of surplus goods and a targeted focus on sustainability and reduction of food waste.
• Since its inception in 2019, the organization has prepared and delivered 175,000 meals to families across Denmark.
• In 2025, around 320 volunteers were part of Det Kærlige Måltid. Since 2019, more than 1000 volunteers have contributed to Det Kærlige Måltid.