The Parent Plate Program

Jeff and Samantha established the Parent Plate Program at YNHCH that provides food for parents so they can stay at their kid’s bedside

Samantha and Jeff Dorman were busy and loving parents to their two daughters, eagerly anticipating the arrival of their third. Toward the end of Sam’s pregnancy, the couple’s youngest daughter, Harper, then two years old, began to exhibit signs of serious illness. It took multiple doctor visits over six weeks, and a change of pediatricians, to receive a diagnosis: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

That first week in the hospital was challenging, as Harper received chemotherapy and the family acclimated to life at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital (YNHCH). Sam and Jeff learned that while food was provided to patients, it was not provided to parents or caregivers staying with their child. Despite many trips to the cafeteria, Sam lost weight, a great concern due to her late-stage pregnancy.

About a month into Harper’s treatment, Sam gave birth to Madison—a beautiful, happy, and healthy child. It was a joyful moment for the family that was short lived. The very next day, Harper was re-admitted to the hematology/oncology floor at YNHCH. This time, Jeff stayed at the hospital with Harper, and Sam stayed home to care for their oldest daughter, Olivia, and their newborn, Madison.

Harper was at the beginning of a long road. She was in and out of the hospital, sometimes for days, sometimes for a month. Jeff was at her side, eating and sleeping as best he could in the hospital setting. He recalls the steep learning curve required to navigate the logistics of caring for a critically ill child, as well as the profound shift in his and Sam’s world view—children get cancer; our child has cancer. It was a difficult time for the entire family, yet they persevered.

The couple learned quickly about leukemia, how to best care for their daughter, and about day-to-day life in the hospital. They noticed that being well-nourished made a big difference in their ability to advocate for their daughter and interact with her healthcare team. Their options were to visit the hospital cafeterias or order delivery from local restaurants, both of which required them to leave Harper’s bedside.

As an alternative, they could purchase a tray that was delivered to Harper’s room by Food and Nutrition. Jeff took advantage of this program, but it added a financial burden, magnifying the emotional and mental stress he was already carrying. Still, with access to daily meals, he had one less distraction. Jeff recalls, “Everything seemed more manageable when I started my day with an omelet and a cup of coffee.” And with that, the idea for the Feeding Families Foundation began to take shape.

Fueled by their determination to transform their family’s experience into positive action, Jeff and Sam moved quickly, “We wanted to help other families make a difficult situation just a little bit better.” They worked with the development team at Yale New Haven Hospital to set up a restricted fund that pays for meals for families; they filed paperwork to incorporate their new nonprofit; and they received tax-exempt status promptly—not an easy undertaking!

In January 2024, they launched the Parent Plate Program at YNHCH, offering parents of children on the hematology/oncology unit one free meal per day. Five months later, they expanded to two meals per day. They stock a supply of healthy snacks and provide cakes for birthdays and other big occasions for children and families. And recently they’ve begun partnering with a number of local restaurants to provide food for families on a regular basis, including pizzas (with the help of New Haven Pizza Club) on Friday nights from Modern Apizza. Plans are underway to expand the program in Connecticut, and possibly beyond.

Sam and Jeff are grateful for the opportunity to serve others facing similar circumstances. Their generosity impacts not only the parents they help to feed, but also their sick children, the doctors and nurses who care for them, and the many partners who support this important work. “After all we’ve been through, everything Harper has been through, it feels good to make a difference!” says Jeff. Olivia, Harper, and Madison agree!

The Feeding Families Foundation is supported by a growing number of donors and sponsors. More information is available on their website at www.feedingfamiliesfoundation.org.