Open Hand: Welcoming with Open Arms the Needy Amongst Us
Posted by Charity Watcher on Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Founded in 1988, Open Hand started as a small project spearheaded by Michael Edwards-Pruitt who, along with a few of his friends, cooked meals for their fellow friends diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Their goal: To alleviate the quality of life for their friends who were too sick to cook meals for themselves. The grassroots group has remained committed to welcoming with open arms the needy amongst us especially people with unique nutrition needs.
With its strong commitment to its goals, Open Hand is one of the most recognized non-profit organizations cited for its innovative vision and fiscal responsibility in the United States. Every day, its men and women prepare and deliver approximately 4,500 meals as well as provide nutrition education to its clients.
Open Hand’s programs include:
• Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)
The program targets children and women with nutrition-sensitive chronic diseases, which requires the professional knowledge of registered dieticians in meal planning.
• Nutrition Education & Dietary Counselling
This service is offered to all Open Hand clients by registered dieticians with focus on healthy eating, physical activity, and self-management, among others.
• Prepared Meals Program
The program provides 1-3 freshly-cooked meals, snacks and supplements to low-income men, women and children with the goal of meeting their daily nutrition needs. The prepared meals are planned according to the unique nutrition needs of each client.
• Dependent Children’s Meals Program
The program provides meals to the dependent children of Open Hand’s clients. By providing both the parents and their kids with nutritious meals, both have better chances at healthy growth and development.
• Open Hand Pantry
The program provides low-income, medically-eligible people with a weekly supply of nutritious non-perishable groceries.
Other programs are Emergency Nutrition, Senior Meals, and the Senior Market Basket Program. Open Hand receives donations in cash and in kind for these programs, which ensures that its 25-year operations continue for many more years to come.
With its strong commitment to its goals, Open Hand is one of the most recognized non-profit organizations cited for its innovative vision and fiscal responsibility in the United States. Every day, its men and women prepare and deliver approximately 4,500 meals as well as provide nutrition education to its clients.
Open Hand’s programs include:
• Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)
The program targets children and women with nutrition-sensitive chronic diseases, which requires the professional knowledge of registered dieticians in meal planning.
• Nutrition Education & Dietary Counselling
This service is offered to all Open Hand clients by registered dieticians with focus on healthy eating, physical activity, and self-management, among others.
• Prepared Meals Program
The program provides 1-3 freshly-cooked meals, snacks and supplements to low-income men, women and children with the goal of meeting their daily nutrition needs. The prepared meals are planned according to the unique nutrition needs of each client.
• Dependent Children’s Meals Program
The program provides meals to the dependent children of Open Hand’s clients. By providing both the parents and their kids with nutritious meals, both have better chances at healthy growth and development.
• Open Hand Pantry
The program provides low-income, medically-eligible people with a weekly supply of nutritious non-perishable groceries.
Other programs are Emergency Nutrition, Senior Meals, and the Senior Market Basket Program. Open Hand receives donations in cash and in kind for these programs, which ensures that its 25-year operations continue for many more years to come.
