Project Open Hand shows an open heart during holidays and all year

Nation's Restaurant News, Dec 6, 1999 by Paul King

Far too little is written about the on-site providers who prepare meals for the less fortunate in our society: homebound seniors, homeless people and victims of diseases such as AIDS who are too weak to care for themselves properly.

One reason, of course, is that so few of these organizations exist. Another is that the market is not a glamorous one: cadres of mostly volunteer chefs, cooks and delivery people preparing meals in a central location and serving them in congregate sites or driving them around to needy local residents.

So, when I received the press release about Project Open Hand's Thanksgiving dinner, I gave the program's director of communications, Kevin Swanson, a call to get an update on the activities of this San Francisco-based operation.

Project Open Hand celebrated its 14th anniversary this year by serving its five millionth meal. Formed in 1985 by Ruth Brinker to serve the gay community in San Francisco, Project Open Hand prepares and delivers meals to about 800 men, women and children who are either HIV-positive or afflicted with full-blown AIDS.

In 1998, Open Hand created the Senior Lunch Program, adding another 400 meals to its list. This year, the program also provided a holiday feast to the patients, families, doctors and nurses of the AIDS and oncology unit at San Francisco General Hospital. In all, Open Hand served more than 1,200 meals Thanksgiving Day.

But, for the Open Hand volunteers; Thanksgiving Day differed from any other day in only one regard: the meal was particularly sumptuous. That meals are provided is daily fact of life here.

"The holidays can be difficult for people with AIDS, many of whom have lost friends or family and can feel especially isolated," said executive director Thomas Nolan. "Our efforts counter this sense of isolation and help bring the spirit of the holiday to the men, women and children we serve."

However, Kevin Swanson added that this need is realized on a daily basis.

"It's not just about nutrition, ever, said Swanson. 'It's about making these people realize that they aren't alone as they battle to maintain their health. From us they get food, nutrition counseling if they need or want it, and a friendly face serving it all."

It is fighting this sense of aloneness that led Open Hand to extend its program to senior citizens last year, he added. The Senior Lunch Program satisfies needs of elders, for food as well as camaraderie, at 17 congregate sites in San Francisco and Oakland.

Open Hand is a product of the Bay Area, but the spirit of the program can now be found throughout the country. As a matter of fact, there are now programs called Project Open Hand in both Columbus, Ohio, and Atlanta. Other cities have similar, small programs, many operated through churches or other charitable organizations. They sport various names but are united in their main goal.

In 1996, NRN profiled New York's version of Open Hand, called God's Love We Deliver, and its efforts to secure a new kitchen to service the more than 1,000 people in its sphere.

This charity is not limited to these formal operations, of course. Especially during the holidays, many food-management firms donated food and employees' time to prepare and serve or deliver food to the homeless, the homebound or the otherwise disenfranchised.

However, their transitory efforts cannot begin to match the work done by groups like Project Open Hand. Their employees and volunteers are in it for the long haul, and they provide more than an occasional meal.

They provide comfort, and they provide hope, on a continuing basis. Sometimes, that's more nourishing than the food.