Like many organizations, Open Hands Food Pantry has been committed to feeding the hungry in the Metro Detroit Area since 1982. With volunteers coming together to assist with organizing and packing donations into designated breakfast and dinner bags, this organization has grown exponentially to provide resources to nearly 19,000 people. More remarkable about this effective organization is its approach towards helping families with nutritious meals with fresh produce from their very own Hoop House and Garden.
Mission & History
Open Hands Food Pantry began in 1982 with one principle guiding the mission: “Hunger is real”. Since then, this organization has helped nearly 19,000 people around the Metro Detroit Area, providing food and other necessities. The packing and distribution process takes place at St. John’s Church in Royal Oak to ensure all families have access to these resources, without any requirements necessary. It is an accomplishment that Open Hands Food Pantry is proud of, as this organization continues to make a tangible difference in the lives of many.
Organizing and Packing Donations
On the first and third Fridays of every month, volunteers come together to assist with organizing and packing donations into designated breakfast and dinner bags. These bags are then grouped according to family size: small (1-3 members), medium (4-6 members) and large (7+ members). Once the bags are packed and placed on a shelf, they are ready for distribution the following day. On the first and third Saturday of each month, the donations are distributed to families from 9 AM until 10:30 AM. It is amazing to see the cars lining up, waiting patiently for these donations.
With the addition of Open Hands’ Garden and Hoop House in 2015, these donations now include fresh vegetables. This has been a major improvement to the efforts of Open Hands, as it gives families the chance to have nutritious meals with fresh produce. Joey Spano, one of the volunteers, proudly expresses, “It’s a big thing for families to get fresh produce.”
Access to Essential Nutrition
The garden and hoop house provide a solution to those suffering from food insecurity, allowing them access to essential nutrition. Leafy greens such as kale, lettuce, Swiss chard, and cabbage, as well as potatoes, peppers, and carrots, can be harvested to supply the pantry with fresh produce. This is in stark contrast to food drives that often lack hygiene products, diapers, and dog food, or have nonuniform donations, leading to difficulty in distribution.
Supporting Open Hands Food Pantry
At Woodward Corner Market, customers have the opportunity to make a difference in Open Hands Food Pantry’s mission of helping those in need. By purchasing a $10 donation card at checkout, customers are contributing to the cause, as the donation is converted to a Meijer Food-Only Gift Card and donated directly to Open Hands Food Pantry. Through this generous act of kindness, Open Hands and Meijer are both thankful for the continued support from Woodward Corner Market and its customers.
Open Hands Food Pantry has remained influential within the Detroit metro area. Its exemplary outreach programs such as its bag and vegetable distributions have helped meet the needs of nearly 19,000 people since 1982. The dedicated volunteers come together every month to put time and effort into making sure that fair access to food and other necessities is available. Open Hands Food Pantry has taken great strides in giving a community the opportunity of nutritious meals with fresh produce, revolutionizing hunger relief for generations and beyond.
