did you know
that sponsoring
a tile to be
installed in our
new building
will be a
permanent
reminder of all
those people
who have given
so much to
ensure that
no one who
is sick in this
community will
also go hungry?
The Story of Open Arms
Open Arms began in 1986 when our founder, Bill Rowe, prepared
dinner in the kitchen of his apartment and delivered it to a few men
with AIDS.
Today, Open Arms continues to embrace the same core values and
singular vision that have guided our work from the beginning. As
our program has expanded, we have moved our operations from
storefronts to church basements to our current building on Franklin
Avenue in Minneapolis.
A registered dietitian and food services director design menus
that ensure our meals meet appropriate nutrition and food safety
guidelines. Our staff and volunteers cook meals with a personal touch
to prepare a wide variety of delicious and nutritious meals that look,
smell, and taste good to our clients.
In 2004, Open Arms expanded our service to include individuals
confronting breast cancer, multiple sclerosis and ALS, while also
increasing our outreach to people with HIV/AIDS. Opening our arms
wider to serve more people is the right thing to do. It’s a way for
us to build on the promises we made to individuals with HIV/AIDS,
and to ensure that something good comes from a terrible disease.
It also provided remarkable opportunities for continued growth and
creativity.
To better meet client needs, we developed a mild menu that avoids
strong spices for those who struggle to eat because of nausea. Soft
meals were introduced for others who have difficulty swallowing.
A greater variety of meal options were offered to clients whose
dexterity problems make using knives and forks challenging. A
special menu was designed for children that balanced the need for
food that kids will eat with the increasing awareness of child obesity.
And Nausea Care Packs were assembled with items like ginger ale
and saltine crackers that can help calm an upset stomach.
This is why Open Arms’ capital campaign is so important. We are
building a kitchen with a heart so we can take our unique model
of care, honed over 23 years of service, and share it with as many
people as possible. It is a singular vision that can positively impact so
many more lives.
Not interested in a tile but want to make a donation to the campaign?