When you meet Marjorie, it’s like reconnecting with an old friend. Her friendly nature and warm smile quickly erase any notion that you haven’t met before.
“Marjorie is one of the bright spots on my delivery route,” says Project Open Hand driver Scott. “She’s always got a story or an interesting photo to share. She’s lonely, but somehow always upbeat. A real optimist.”
Marjorie is a long-time client of Project Open Hand. For many years, she has enjoyed nutritious lunch at the Potrero Neighborhood House, one of 23 Bay Area sites where we provide healthy, midday meals for seniors.
Last June, when Marjorie was undergoing radiation for cancer, she became too weak to safely leave her home. Keeping up her daily lunch routine was out of the question. After a couple of weeks of “surviving on crackers and peanut butter,” she called Project Open Hand to start home-delivered meals.
Receiving a warm, nutritious meal is a bright spot in her day. “It’s something I look forward to – seeing Scott every day. I love going to my front room every afternoon, waiting for that doorbell to ring. That in itself is something. It’s such a privilege to have someone thinking about me, caring, and providing me with nutritious meals. “
Marjorie’s health continues to have ups and downs. Because of diabetes, she has poor circulation in her feet, which often makes hard for her to walk more than a few feet at a time without stopping to rest.
As someone who spent her life helping others — over 40 years teaching elementary school in San Francisco — Marjorie says it’s not easy for her to ask for help. She credits Project Open Hand with buoying her spirits and her energy.
“You can’t buy motivation, and that’s what your meals have done for me. They give me the energy to keep fighting, to keep going,” she says with a bright smile.
Has Project Open Hand helped sustain you or a loved one? Share your story in MealTimes by contacting Maria at [email protected], 415-447-2426.