Guest Opinion: Meals With Love - All Year Long
Bay Area Reporter, December 19, 2002
The changing of the years has always been for me an occasion to reflect on the passing year and to contemplate the new one with its unknown challenges and opportunities. One opportunity that I have had is the extraordinary privilege of serving as Project Open Hand's Executive Director for over eight years now. Although I see many challenges ahead, I also see a bright future.
When Project Open Hand faces challenges, I am often reminded of a story from the very earliest days of the organization. One day, a volunteer, with a hot meal in hand, knocked on the door of a client's home. She waited and waited and waited. Finally, the client opened the door, completely exhausted from the effort of getting out of bed to let the volunteer in. For the next weeks and then months, the volunteer delivered meals every day and watched the client gain weight and strength. Eventually the client regained enough strength to care for himself, and he even volunteered some of his time helping to bring meals to others. It is that spirit - meals with love - that keeps us moving forward during the rough times.
But as I look forward to 2003, I do so with very real concern, primarily with the economy. The deep recession in the Bay Area, the looming prospect of war, the likelihood of flat or diminished Ryan White funding by Congress, increased costs such as insurance, utilities and fuel and, if trends hold, an increasing demand for services all make for a most challenging year ahead.
And, we are just finishing a year that already proved to be the hardest in my time here. We served many more meals last year than the year before and we anticipate serving even more in 2003. During the same time, our costs to provide our life-sustaining food services rose significantly. Government support has wavered - Ryan White funding was already cut by 6.1%, but was partially restored thanks to the Board of Supervisors and Mayor Brown. Some longtime corporate and foundation support has been reduced and, in a few cases, eliminated. Individual donors are giving what they can, but more people are out of work and unsure about their own economic situations.
We have made many sacrifices at Project Open Hand - but not to the detriment of our clients. I can't tell you how proud I am to work with our staff. They responded to our funding issues with great generosity and with total support for the value of not cutting services to our clients.
We also continue to be graced by a remarkably dedicated volunteer corps - men and women from all walks of life and from all backgrounds. They continue to come here to peel vegetables, assist clients in the grocery centers in San Francisco and Oakland, deliver meals, and help in the office and at special events. It takes the help of about 100 volunteers each day to feed nearly 2,000 people 365 days of the year. And for all of our seventeen years, people have responded generously to the call of our mission - meals with love. I am deeply indebted to these dedicated, wonderful individuals.
I am also mindful, especially at this time of year, that Project Open Hand is a partner in caring for people living with HIV/ AIDS and other critical illnesses, and seniors. There is an amazing network of services working together on behalf of our clients. We are proud to be a part of the network of agencies working closely in Alameda County and San Francisco to provide the best services possible to a larger, growing and complex population. We are also proud to share our building on Polk Street with Shanti and the Asian Pacific Islander Wellness Center.
As 2003 begins, I am filled with hope - hope for Project Open Hand that is grounded in my firm belief that our mission - so simple, so powerful, so compelling - will continue to attract support from the community no matter what challenges we face. I am as touched today as I ever have been by the powerful vision 17 years ago of our founder, Ruth Brinker, and by the power of that vision to attract and retain the loyal, dedicated support of so very many people in the Bay Area and beyond.
When I think about that early client who got healthier and stronger with daily home-cooked meals, I can't help but think of Project Open Hand's humble beginnings and the strength that grew from the loving nourishment of the people of the Bay Area. As 2002 ends, I urge you to be as generous as possible to Project Open Hand and to other non-profit community-based organizations doing the vital work of caring for others. I can assure you the need is great. Come volunteer in our kitchen or grocery center, or send us a check. Your gift, of any amount, will be well-spent and will have a genuine impact on the life of someone in your own community who is in need.
I wish you all the best through the Holidays and the New Year.
Tom Nolan has been Executive Director of Project Open Hand since 1994 and was a member of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors for eight years, serving as its President twice. Tom and his partner, Larry Friesen, live in San Francisco.
