Mandy Moore Takes Her Upper Endoscopy Test for Celiac Disease to Instagram

It's always interesting to see "famous" folks adapt to a celiac diagnosis--since I've been gluten-free for more than 20 years I feel like telling them how much easier it is to be gluten-free now vs. 20 years ago!! Also I have a question, do you or anyone else know if the food banks and food prep programs (ie like AARP recent attempt) collect gluten-free food contributions, along with everything else? I ask bc every year I donate food stuffs to the programs in my area, I ask that question when I hand over the gluten-free food I am donating...and for too many years to count they always say--"we don't know--but we'll get back to you--and they never do. Where can I find that info? I am starting to not want to donate because they are so deaf to gluten-free needs.

It's always interesting to see "famous" folks adapt to a celiac diagnosis--since I've been gluten-free for more than 20 years I feel like telling them how much easier it is to be gluten-free now vs. 20 years ago!! Also I have a question, do you or anyone else know if the food banks and food prep programs (ie like AARP recent attempt) collect gluten-free food contributions, along with everything else? I ask bc every year I donate food stuffs to the programs in my area, I ask that question when I hand over the gluten-free food I am donating...and for too many years to count they always say--"we don't know--but we'll get back to you--and they never do. Where can I find that info? I am starting to not want to donate because they are so deaf to gluten-free needs.

I have wondered this myself, especially this time of year. I see all the free Thanksgiving meals for the homeless and wonder how I would deal with it if I were the homeless person with celiac. Would I need to refuse the food due to potential for cross contamination? Eat only the naturally gluten-free foods?

Thanks for the follow up on Mandy Moore and her diagnosis. I do not have an Instagram account so I did not hear of her follow up diagnosis until now. May she heal us and hopefully be another "famous" supporter of the celiac community. Mary & Vicki my local food donation center in my town collects my gluten-free food. They said they accept gluten-free food. I do not know if it goes directly to another celiac in my community in need or if it is sent to a neighboring town in my county that has a specific gluten-free food bank. That gluten-free food bank serves the larger county or which my town belongs too. They have shared that much with me. I ironically got several items from me as in addition to Gluten I have developed a corn intolerance so out went many gluten-free processed foods. I removed corn, gluten, and cow milk from my home. So someone if not a corn intolerant celiac benefited in my county.