At Project Open Hand we rely upon more than 125 volunteers every day to help prepare, package and deliver nutritious meals and distribute groceries to sick and elderly neighbors. In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month, we will be spotlighting the stories of our wonderful and dedicated network of volunteers who have been helping us fulfill our mission of delivering "meals with love" since 1985. This week, we catch up with Chuck Roberts, who has been volunteering with Project Open Hand for more than 30 years.
Chuck Roberts has been a dedicated volunteer at Project Open Hand for the past 31 years and he is still going strong. In 1986, he and his wife, Gael, were members of Grace Cathedral where Project Open Hand Founder Ruth Brinker frequently recruited volunteers. Chuck remembers Ruth as passionate, persistent and having an inspiring message. Chuck and Gael were so consistently impressed with Ruth that they eventually signed up to deliver meals. "We took the route that other people didn't want on Eddy Street because it was too dangerous -- it was the Tenderloin after all," laughs Chuck, who still safely volunteers along the same route.
What is you favorite Project Open Hand memory?
I was delivering a meal to a female client and the front desk receptionist at the SRO told me she passed away. This was a recurring theme in the early days of the AIDS epidemic, so I didn't question it. I returned to Project Open Hand from my deliveries that day and took one more person off my route. Often in the SROs there are multiple clients and when I went back the next week I ran smack into the "dead" woman. That was the first and only time I got to put somone back on the list. We both laughed about it.
Why would you recommend volunteering or supporting Project Open Hand?
"To whom much has been given, much shall be required from him." My nephew had AIDS and benefitted from Project Open Hand's services. It gave us more time with him and his quality of life was substantially better. In the late 1980s, Gael and I made a commitment to give back to the agency with time and donations. Project Open Hand had given all of us a richer quality of life over the years.
If you were on a desert island and you could only have one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I guess it would be chicken. I've traveled all around the world experiencing exotic cuisines and my favorite food is roasted chicken I make myself with a rub that keeps the chicken moist and tender.
What is your favorite food served at Project Open Hand?
The tender kielbasa was my most memorable POH favorite. It wasn't too salty and was cooked just right.
What is an example of a time you knew you were positively impacting our clients?
Well, it's more of a poignant memory that just sticks with me over the years. I was in one of those dilapidated SROs delivering food and my client was roaming the hallway irritated and confused. "Why did you come back, you already gave me my meal, I don't need anymore," the client said, aggressively, even though he hadn't seen me that day. A friend and neighbor popped his head out and calmed the fellow down, telling the client "you haven't eaten yet today and you need the meal." The client calmed down and meekly took the food. The AIDS medications back then played havoc with people's minds. Sometimes I would catch clients between their courses of meds and they seemed more like themselves. It was hard watching what this disease and its treament did to people.
What song is the soundtrack to your life?
I enjoyed "Unchained Melody" with my wife, Gael. It's a 1955 movie theme song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. North used the music for the little-known prison film, "Unchained," (hence the name). The main film character sings "Unchained Melody" to his wife, when he realizes he's not getting out of prison.
What spirit animal do you identify with?
I suppose I identify with the eagle. It soars high and sees everything.
If you have questions about volunteering with Project Open Hand, please call (415) 447-2300, email [email protected], or visit openhand.org/volunteer.