Lunds & Byerlys charitable giving
Open Arms of Minnesota
Preparing and delivering free, nutritious meals for those with life-threatening illnesses
W
e believe in the importance of giving back to the communities we serve, and now, in partnership with Open Arms of Minnesota, we have strengthened our efforts to feed those in need across the Twin Cities. Our partnership with Open Arms began in 2016 and has continued to grow. This year, we’re pleased to support Open Arms in a variety of events that will provide nutritious meals to thousands of Minnesotans. We’re excited to share more about this wonderful nonprofit that serves a critical need in our community. It’s a simple notion: People who are sick should not be without food. Yet every day, people in our community with life-threatening illnesses find themselves unable to shop or cook—and are often without a support network to help. That’s where Open Arms comes in. Open Arms is a nonprofit that cooks and delivers free, nutritious meals to people living with lifethreatening illnesses in the Twin Cities. Open Arms began in 1986 when Bill Rowe prepared and delivered food to a friend dying from AIDS. Today, Open Arms cooks 11,000 meals each week for those living with cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple
Open Arms of Minnesota chefs at their Minneapolis facility
12 real food fall 2017
sclerosis and ALS. All of their services are provided free of charge to anyone in the household affected by the disease, including caregivers and dependent children. The organization is built on a strong belief of “food as medicine.” To that end, the Open Arms team includes a registered dietitian, a food service director and trained chefs who create specialized menus tailored to each of their client groups’ unique nutritional needs. After meals are prepared, they are carefully packaged and delivered to Open Arms clients. Open Arms serves a critical need in our communities, but they don’t do it alone. Their small but mighty professional staff is supplemented with the essential assistance of 5,500 volunteers annually. Volunteers spend time in the Open Arms kitchen, the organic garden, in the office and out on delivery routes. Another way to support Open Arms is by attending their events throughout the year, which include their Moveable Feast and gourmet pop-up dinners and 24-hour Cook-a-Thon at Open Arms. To learn more, visit OpenArmsMN.org. Since their founding, Open Arms has helped nourish and sustain people living with illnesses in the Twin Cities. We’re honored to partner with Open Arms and celebrate all the good they do in our communities. ■
Volunteers help assemble meals