Recently, Project Open Hand became the first Bay Area organization to earn accreditation from the Food Is Medicine Coalition (FIMC), a national coalition representing the original creators of the life-saving, medically-tailored meal intervention.
The FIMC Accreditation Standards provide verified credibility for the MTM interventions that an agency provides and how the organization operates.
A national coalition, FIMC represents nonprofits who created the MTM intervention nearly 40 years ago in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Today, the coalition represents organizations across the country who provide MTMs and medically tailored groceries, nutrition therapy, counseling, and education to people living with severe and chronic illnesses. FIMC advances equitable access to these life-saving interventions through policy change, research, and best practices.
In addition to rigorous accreditation standards, the label allows for an agency like Project Open Hand to distinguish the quality of their food, services, and care. It signals to the community, policy makers, healthcare partners, and most importantly, clients a level of service that can be trusted.
“Trust is a critical ingredient in all we do,” says Project Open Hand CEO Paul Hepfer. “For the last forty years, our clients, volunteers, and stakeholders have trusted us not only to serve meals with love, but to do so with the highest quality of food and service in mind. This accreditation is a recognition of this hard work, and a way to signal to our community that this will continue to be our priority.”
“We congratulate Project Open Hand on this remarkable achievement," said Alissa Wassung, Executive Director of FIMC. "Their accreditation demonstrates leadership and commitment to advancing the food is medicine movement and ensuring equitable access to lifesaving interventions for those who need them most."