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Project Open Hand needs volunteers

Bay City News
Monday October 01, 2001

One East Bay community service agency is looking for volunteers to help serve the 500 meals a day that it is now able to make for people with HIV/AIDS, seniors and homebound or critically ill patients. 

Project Open Hand was recently able to more than double the meals it cooks daily with its new state-of-the-art kitchen. 

“Our Oakland kitchen, which opened in May, has the capacity to make up to 500 meals a day,’’ said Tom Nolan, Project Open Hand’s executive director. 

The organization was founded in 1985 and has been providing services to Alameda County since 1989, but for the last 12 years meals were prepared in San Francisco and then taken to Oakland for distribution. 

“The Oakland kitchen was opened in response to our speaking with health officials, social workers and other Alameda County community organizations,’’ Nolan said. 

“Through these conversations, we identified a strong need for additional services in Alameda County,’’ he said. “The goal of this new facility is to feed as many people as possible.’’ 

Additionally, a grocery center and nutrition kiosk will be opened at the Oakland site. The kiosk is designed to provide nutritional education, help people develop healthier eating habits and establish a regular menu that works with people’s drug therapies. Call 596-8200.