As Project Angel Food was opening its doors in 1989, Ismael was caring for his partner, Jorge, who was dying of AIDS. "It was a scary time," he remembers. "All of our friends were dying." Jorge passed away, and Ismael survived, enduring repeated hospitalizations and years of grief, often wondering why he was the one left behind. Now 70 and living in a boarding house in South Los Angeles, he relies on Project Angel Food as his primary source of nourishment: "The food is so delicious. It helps me survive on my Social Security check. I don't know what I would do without Project Angel Food." He is not alone— for 86% of the seriously ill people we serve, our medically tailored meals are their main source of food. For Ismael, each delivery is more than a tray of food; it is comfort, dignity, and a reminder that after so much loss, his life still matters.