About Us

The Healthy Lunch & Lifestyle Project is head-quartered at the 125-acre Iron Mountain Ranch. The ranch currently supports the sustainable production of beef, pork, goat, and poultry. Iron Mountain Ranch is ideally located eight miles from downtown Redding. Nestled inside 5,000 acres of public lands, surrounded by the Sacramento River with both Mounts Shasta and Lassen in the background as well as its own year-round creek, the ranch provides a constant reminder that our precious natural resources are, in fact, right in our own backyards. Additionally, with its mining, logging and Native American history, the Iron Mountain Ranch provides limitless opportunities to study our local culture and history, as well as the long-term social and environmental costs associated with the logging and mining practices of old.

The Healthy Lunch & Lifestyle Project, a start up non-profit organization, was founded by Bridgette Brick-Wells, Executive Director. Bridgette’s husband, Jesse, is a physician board certified in emergency medicine who treats an increasing number of children and adults suffering from diseases directly related to overweight and poor nutrition.

Bridgette comes from a family that has farmed and raised beef for more than 100 years. Childhood summers and holidays spent on the family's historic Broadview Farm in Oklahoma provided Bridgette with a deep love of agriculture and an appreciation for the rural way of life--as well as some great practical skills, like how to drive a tractor and expertly bait a fish hook ! A 9th generation Native American, Bridgette traces her ancestry to Chief Moytoy of the Cherokee Nation. Bridgette studied Sustainable Development and Political Economy at UC Berkeley and developed a non-profit organization, Project Opportunity, with her father which they ran from 1998-2005; she managed up to 700 volunteers per day in addition to coordinating efforts between multiple partners to build affordable houses modified to meet the needs of the physically and developmentally disabled. When not busy taking care of her family and organically farming their 125-acre ranch, she happily donates her time to multiple charities.

Elizabeth Hill is our Education Director. Before joining HELP, Liz studied Studio Art and Biology at Stanford University. She went on to complete her Elementary Teaching Credential and Master’s of Education at San Jose State University. Liz has worked as both an art and science teacher and is now the director of an after-school enrichment program for the County of Santa Cruz. Liz is an avid gardener and is certified as a Master Gardener through the University of California. Also a cooking enthusiast, she started, expanded, and then sold her own baking company in Santa Cruz. When she's not working, volunteering, gardening or cooking, you can find Liz playing volleyball on the beach, camping in the mountains, or traveling to faraway lands (she has been backpacking in the Himalayas, hot air ballooning in Africa, sky diving in New Zealand, and swimming with the seals in Antarctica!)

Pamela Ikuta, DO, is the Medical Director for HELP and is board certified in Family Practice. Dr. Ikuta practices emergency medicine at Mercy and St. Elizabeth Community Hospitals. Born in Hawaii and raised in southern California, Pam relocated to Redding to complete her residency training and has been an active member of the community ever since. In addition to managing her busy medical practice and serving on numerous hospital committees, Pam also serves on the Board of Directors for the North State Symphony and the Board of Regents for Turtle Bay. Pam created and manages the Bryan K. Zollner Memorial Scholarship Fund for Future Firefighters in honor of her late husband. Pam is classically trained in piano and French horn and is an avid supporter of the arts. She also finds time to work in her garden, play with her cat and dogs, and cook for family and friends.

Kendyl Kaplan, Youth Leadership Director, is a junior at Shasta High School where she proudly serves as Student Council Treasurer and on Peer Court. As a mentor for Shasta County Chemical People, Kendyl provides a strong voice promoting a drug, violence and alcohol-free youth community. Kendyl attends AP classes at Shasta High School in preparation for a planned college career studying Nutrition and Psychology. In addition to her efforts to bring health awareness to her peers, Kendyl is a passionate advocate for animal rights and human tolerance. When not managing her busy school schedule and numerous leadership roles, Kendyl works as a hostess at Moonstone Bistro.