I (MaryEllen) found whole-food plant-based nutrition in 2020 while desperately searching for answers to the chronic Lyme disease I had been living with for more than ten years. My husband John and I decided to jump all in together—and it completely changed our lives. My body began to heal in ways I hadn’t thought possible, and I’ve never looked back. John also saw dramatic improvements: his cholesterol dropped 120 points, he lost 40 pounds, and he’s now in the best health of his life.

Because of the difference this lifestyle made for us, I felt called to keep learning. I earned my Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies (CNS), completed the Rouxbe Plant Professional Culinary School program, and became a licensed Food for Life instructor with PCRM (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine).

In 2022 we formed Plants4Living, a not-for-profit organization focused on community engagement, spreading the benefits of plant-based nutrition, and improving access to healthy food. We have turned our pain into purpose by sharing the benefits of plant-based nutrition with others through classes and teaching engagements. While I’m not “cured” of Lyme disease, I know without a doubt that whole-food plant-based eating has given me the chance to live my best possible life.

We felt inspired by God to care for our neighbors in need while helping to reduce food waste. While teaching classes, we noticed that many in marginalized or low-income situations wanted to eat healthier once they learned how important it was for their health, but they often struggled with the cost of fresh produce. That reality weighed on our hearts.

When we attended the Plant Forward workshop organized by CNS, Dr. T. Colin Campbell encouraged us to take steps toward what we felt led to do. His words gave us the courage to begin. Our first step was talking with the owner of a local orchard about harvesting apples at the end of the season. That effort was a wonderful success—we gathered over sixty bushels of apples to share with the community. The next year, we expanded by partnering with a local seed company, harvesting more than ten tons of produce that fall with the help of a few faithful volunteers.

What started as a small step of obedience has grown into a project that’s impacting both food security and food waste in our community.

Our advice to others trying to get projects off the ground is this: don’t feel like you need to wait until you have every single detail figured out. Just take the first step. When we began, all we had was a simple idea and a willing heart, but God opened doors as we moved forward. It’s easy to let fear or uncertainty hold you back, but even small steps can lead to big results over time. And you don’t have to do it alone. Look for others who share your vision and are willing to help; working together not only lightens the load but also multiplies the impact.