Open Hand officials announced recently that the Atlanta-based nonprofit exceeded its $4.2 million capital expansion campaign goal, enabling the organization to nearly double its capacity to provide healthy meals to senior citizens and those struggling with chronic and terminal illnesses.
The funds will be used to expand the existing site on Ottley Drive into an adjacent, 17,000-square-foot building and to develop a state-of-the-art facility. The kitchen, where thousands of meals are prepared and packaged each day, will remain in the current building with administrative offices, storage and packaging moving to the new facility.
"We've flat-out outgrown this space," said Matthew Pieper, senior director of resource development for the agency that prepares 5,000 meals a day for people living below the poverty level.
Clients, who are referred by partner agencies, include senior citizens and people with diseases such as HIV/AIDS, cancer and diabetes. The nonprofit uses a network of volunteers to deliver nutritious meals to homes and senior centers. In addition, Open Hand, formerly known as Project Open Hand, provides information and coaching on nutrition and its importance to overall health.
Expansion is essential; since 2005, demand has risen about 12 percent annually. The jump has been fueled by an increase in people with chronic diseases, the aging population and the economy. Clients can receive from one to three meals a day every day of the week.
"The economy only impacts it further," Pieper said. "People are unable to afford appropriate services when they become ill and insurance doesn't always provide for nutrition."
Studies have shown that a healthy diet and exercise can lower a person's risk of developing diabetes and other chronic illnesses. That fact is not lost on clients like William Joe Jones, 71, a retiree.
"It helps me tremendously," said Jones, who has participated in the program since 2003 and receives one meal a day Mondays through Fridays. "I'm not the best cook and these meals are healthy and nutritious."
Cathie Berger, director of the Area Agency on Aging at the Atlanta Regional Commission, one of the partner agencies, said there is a huge need for the program.
Currently there are about 537,000 people age 60 and older living in the 10-county metro area. In 2005, one in 1o people in those counties was age 60 and older. The ARC predicts that in 2030, that number will grow to one in five.
"We have to find new ways to deliver services to this population," she said. "They are putting emphasis on helping people to stay healthy."
The expansion will be funded through individual and corporate donations and grants from foundations including the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation, Atlanta Foundation, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, the Elton John Charitable Fund, the J.B. Fuqua Foundation and the Tull Charitable Foundation.
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