Cutting Costs for Celiacs

Hello! My name is Lexie Van Den Heuvel. In the summer of 2013, I founded Cutting Costs for Celiacs; a nonprofit that aids Celiac patients across Wisconsin. I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in the Spring of 2011 after living with the symptoms of undiagnosed Celiac Disease for three years. The idea to start a nonprofit came to me after grocery shopping one day. While there, I noticed the cost of gluten-free bread was about 2-3 dollars more than the regular whole wheat bread. It made me wonder: "How does everyone have access to the necessary, yet expensive, gluten-free food?" Through research, I found that many people do not have access. Instead, low-income families with Celiac-affected relatives often don't buy gluten-free foods, and they eat gluten due to the expense. However, Celiac Disease patients who do not follow a strict gluten-free diet can have more expensive complications later in life. Therefore, I have made it my goal to help children so that they do not have to live in constant pain from a treatable disease. 

 

Every child deserves to be happy and healthy, and at Cutting Costs for Celiacs we strive to make this a reality.