Rooted in Wellness is a wellness-forward institution prioritizing prevention, education, and holistic health—not just treatment of illness. It goes beyond traditional care models to promote overall well-being, equity, and long-term quality of life for the populations it serves in disadvantaged communities, schools, and health clinics. And here's...

Our Story

We are "Rooted in Wellness" because we recognize that true well-being extends far beyond physical health alone. Like a tree that draws strength from its roots, we thrive when we are firmly grounded in practices, relationships, and values that nourish every aspect of our being—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. By staying connected to these foundational elements, we cultivate resilience, balance, and a deeper sense of purpose. This holistic approach to wellness ensures that we can grow, adapt, and flourish, even in the face of life's challenges, leading to a more fulfilled and harmonious life.

In the heart of Fallbrook, California, where rolling hills cradle a resilient agricultural community, a quiet crisis has long been unfolding. Families have been struggling—not just with hunger, but with a lack of access to reliable nutrition education, wellness resources, and tools for personal growth. So, in 1991 three churches came together to provide their community in need with a Food Pantry, which was served by two previous leaders, until 2018 when Shae Gawlak, a degreed Nutritionist, with fifteen years of non-profit experience and was an Exercise Sports Science professor at Concordia University in Irvine CA, was hired to be the CEO for the Fallbrook Food Pantry. Shae has brought nutrition education, personal growth opportunities and wellness programming to the Fallbrook community and for the past seven years she has seen it all up close: mothers choosing between rent and groceries, seniors skipping meals to afford medication, and children growing up without the knowledge or support to lead healthy lives. Each face told a story of need—of strength, courage, and the quiet hope for something better.

It was in this space of urgency and purpose that Shae joined forces with Catherine Sousa, then, Board President of the Fallbrook Food Pantry, from 2021-2023, and a lifelong advocate for community empowerment. Together, they asked a powerful question: What if food insecurity was just the beginning? What if the solution went beyond emergency food assistance and toward long-term, life-changing education?

Rooted in Wellness was born from that vision—a place where underserved individuals could access not only healthy food, but the knowledge and confidence to nourish their lives from the inside out.

More than a program, RIW is a movement. Designed as the critical stop gap between survival and stability, it offers evidence-based wellness education that empowers people to take control of their health—through nutrition, chronic disease prevention, mental well-being, and emotional growth. From cooking classes and cancer-supportive workshops to diabetes management and youth wellness courses, RIW provides tools for self-advocacy, resilience, and lifelong change.

Shae and Catherine knew this wasn’t about a handout. It was about restoration. About creating a path to wellness for people who had long been told they were meant to go without.

Today, Rooted in Wellness stands as a bridge between hardship and healing—a place where hope is cultivated, education is transformative, and every person is seen, heard, and valued. With Shae and Catherine at the helm, RIW continues to reach deeper into the community, fulfilling its mission with compassion, purpose, and the unshakable belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive.

"Rooted in compassion, driven by purpose—because love never fails."--Catherine Sousa