Nonprofit meal service Open Hand is relocating and expanding its headquarters at a new office in Grove Park thanks to the success of a recent fundraising drive.
“This marks a new chapter in the organization’s long-time commitment to delivering delicious, nourishing meals and nutrition education to so many clients in need in the community,” said Matthew Pieper, CEO, Open Hand, noting the move gives the organization capacity to triple production over time. “We are honored to serve thousands of seniors, children and families, and neighbors every day who are at risk for or have a disability or illness. Our relocation to a larger, better-equipped facility will position Open Hand for our next era of service to those who need us most.”
Open Hand predicts that over the next five years demand for its meals and services will increase by 50 percent.
The move was funded by the largest capital campaign in the organization’s history, The Healing Power of Food, which raised $19.5 million. Led by campaign chair Johanna Ellis Reisinger, this milestone effort significantly enhanced the organization’s ability to serve more individuals in need.
The new 43,000 square-foot headquarters at 1380 West Marietta St. features eight loading docks (seven more than the former facility), space for a culinary training workforce development program, a 100% increase in warehouse space and a 75% increase potential for cold storage.
New refrigerated vehicles, including one new 25-foot refrigerated truck, have been added to the fleet of delivery vans, allowing Open Hand to grow delivery from 25,000 meals to 40,000 meals each week over time.
“I am so honored and grateful to everyone who has helped us get to this great point of achievement. The guiding principles of love, compassion, and service that gave rise to the organization’s mission 35 years ago remain steadfast today,” continued Pieper, noting the organization’s roots in 1988, when a small group of friends gathered to cook meals for their neighbors and loved ones disenfranchised by HIV/AIDS. “Since then, Open Hand has expanded to meet the needs in the community to provide health-promoting food directly to the homes of people who need it. We are grateful for the community who helped us get here, and we are asking for continued support as demand for our programs steadily grows. We believe food is love and food is medicine; and everyone deserves access to high quality, healthy food.”
Learn more and donate at openhandatlanta.org.