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Imagine waking up each morning never knowing how much energy you'll have for the day. Will you have enough "spoons" to shower, prepare a meal, and pay your bills—or will you need to choose just one? This is daily reality for millions living with chronic illness who fall between support system cracks.
My guests this week, Andie Malone and Cady Menk, social workers who transformed personal struggle into community solution through their non-profit, Ladle of Ferns. After losing a friend to suicide, they looked at each other and asked the haunting question: "Who's next?" Their answer became a lifeline for those with invisible illnesses who don't qualify for traditional assistance yet can't afford private support.
Through four groundbreaking programs, they're reshaping what support looks like. Their online community creates 24/7 connection where members share "peaks and valleys" weekly. Monthly meetups combine peer support with practical education. Their resource navigation helps clients create manageable action plans and complete overwhelming paperwork. Perhaps most innovative is their body doubling program, where simply having another person present—virtually or in-person—helps participants accomplish tasks that would otherwise remain undone.
What makes Ladle of Ferns extraordinary isn't just what they offer, but how they offer it. Every service is completely free and tailored to individual needs. Need someone to sit with you while making a difficult phone call? They'll do it. Just need links to resources? They've got you. This flexibility comes from lived experience—both founders identify as "spoonies" themselves, understanding firsthand how chronic illness transforms simple tasks into monumental challenges.
Visit ladleofferns.org to learn how you can join their community, volunteer, or donate to help those who wake up each day not knowing how many spoons they'll have, but knowing they don't have to face it alone.
Ladle of Ferns is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit organization that provides personalized support to adults living with chronic physical and/or mental illnesses. Ladle of Ferns was dreamt up after Co-Creators Andie Melone and Cady Menk spent countless hours discussing the lack of support for themselves, their friends, and even their fellow social workers. They realized that many people struggle to access traditional support services for two main reasons: they do not make enough to pay for services out of pocket AND they do not qualify for traditional low to no-cost services. To put it simply, they belong to the economic middle. If you would like some support, or simply want to get involved, check out the links below:
To check-out the website: https://www.ladleofferns.org/
For information on our events: https://www.ladleofferns.org/events
To follow us on socials:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556308831956
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladleofferns/
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