Wisconsin Man Cooks Up Solution to Loneliness One Meal at a Time

The world can be pretty lonely sometimes and the feeling can often go unnoticed by others around you. But a Wisconsin man is cooking up a solution to loneliness in an effort to bridge the gap. Chad Francour is starting Meals with a Friend. The business will pair volunteers with individuals who feel isolated and alone – whether due to age, disability, or life circumstances. The idea behind Meals with a Friend is simple but powerful and based on the importance of sharing one meal at a time. It will create the opportunity to enjoy a meal and conversation while giving people a desperately needed connection.

Francour recently joined Pete Schwaba, host of Nite Lite with Pete Schwaba, to discuss how he came up with a plan for this program.

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Listen to the entire interview here:

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“Research shows loneliness can be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day,” Francour explains. “I’ve experienced my own struggles with isolation after a traumatic brain injury. I’m now on a mission to help others who might feel forgotten.”

Francour’s program provides not just meals, but meaningful interaction for those who are lonely. It will also offer emotional support and wellness checks which may improve the person’s mental and physical health, too.  

And as Meals with a Friend gears up, Francour hopes to create stronger communities. He considers it more than a business, calling it a movement toward a more connected and caring society.  

“I want to build a place where people can connect over a shared meal while helping heal the invisible wounds of loneliness,” he says.

If you would like to volunteer or learn more about participating, you can contact Francour directly here.

Francour’s vision for the future includes expanding his services and building an online platform to make it easier for people to get involved.

Watch the interview here. Chad joins Pete at 1:32:00: