When a recent study revealed that women of color in Oakland are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than their Caucasian counterparts, we knew we needed to act. This disparity is largely due to lack of access to services, so we’re using our food and nutrition services as a “bridge to care” for women of color with advanced-stage breast cancer.
Our aim is to attract and engage these women in care by offering our free, high-quality nutrition services, since so many are not only sick, but also food insecure. When they visit with us weekly or daily to pick up meals or groceries, we will connect them with health care service providers in our community.
We also launched an outreach campaign in the East Bay last fall, contacting 30 health care clinics that serve low-income residents. Our goal is to keep Project Open Hand top-of-mind among health care providers who can refer clients living with HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, diabetes and other diseases that disproportionately impact communities of color.
We know we can’t do it alone. In November, Project Open Hand joined several East Bay social service agencies to explore opportunities to improve access to services for low-income residents.
“By working together, we can more effectively engage our most vulnerable and at-risk neighbors so they can get the health care services they need,” said Marsha Martin, founder of Get Screened Oakland, who helped coordinate the November gathering of community partners. “Project Open Hand’s healthy meals and groceries are an important part of the community response – using the basic necessity of daily food, we’re able to attract and engage people in need and build better connections to medical, psychological and social supports.”