Project Open Hand

Project Open Hand is a volunteer maintained and operated non-profit organization offering hot meals, grocery service, and nutrition education to those who qualify in both San Francisco and Alameda Counties. Beneficiaries of the project include men and women infected with HIV/AIDS, critically ill or homebound individuals, as well as people over the age of 60 years-old in need of meal service or nutritional education.

History
Project Open Hand was created in 1985 by Ruth Brinker, a retired grandmother who recognized the lack of social services for those infected with HIV/AIDS. She noticed the effects of malnutrition on the terminally ill from watching a number of her friends struggle to get proper nourishment during their illness. After noticing a growing problem the idea was born and a positive impact was soon to follow. Ruth began by delivering meals to 7 of her friends and from there, the word quickly spread. Project Open Hand served 5,000 lunches to individuals infected with HIV/AIDS, 3,500 lunches in their Senior Lunch Program, and over 110,000 bags of groceries were distributed between their East Bay and San Francisco locations.

Project Open Hand receives the majority of its funding through private donations, with small amounts taken in from local governmental agencies. There is also a direct donation from the United Way. Food service operations, such as the preparation of hot meals, bagging of groceries, and delivery of food to those in need are all conducted by the 125 daily volunteers in combination with the full and part-time staff of 130 people.