Mealtimes | Issue 121 Community Volunteer Spotlight: Joe Dejulio
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Quarterly News from Project Open Hand | Published Since 1989 Issue No. 121 Spotlight On DAS and POH : a public/private ith Love + Food ls w is M ea edic M ine partnership POH @ 35 Celebrating 35 Years delivers results he San Francisco Depart- This begged the question — how freezers for five CNP locations demand,” said POH CEO Paul ment of Disability and would POH meet the increased and the rental of a 40-foot Hepfer. Aging Services (DAS) demand? freezer trailer that can store up POH Director of Operations supports many nonprof- The answer: with help from to 20,000 meals. This additional Michael McCormick also it organizations that provide a T the community in partnership capacity has allowed POH to noticed the positive impact on range of services to older adults, with DAS. increase meal production from production. veterans, and people with dis- 8,000 frozen medically tailored abilities. “Long-standing support for meals to 17,000 per week. "DAS did not hesitate. They For Project Open Hand organizations like POH starts DAS funds also supported jumped in right behind us and (POH), its partnership with DAS, with good communication the purchase of an additional supported us. They gave us the which began in 1998, is vitally between our staff. This allows delivery van and personal ability to make the transitions important in providing nutritious us to be able to understand the protective equipment for necessary to continue to serve meals to over 4,200 seniors and issues impacting organizations staff and volunteers at risk of not only our existing clients, but adults with disabilities in the city. and quickly provide guidance COVID-19 while distributing to expand and serve even more and support as needed. In the clients,” he said. From the Community meals to the community. case of POH, this meant helping Nutrition Program (CNP) that The Shelter in Place orders support big changes in food To put this in perspective, serves meals at 16 community prevented regular food service operations to “to-go” prior to COVID-19, the CNP center locations to our mobile deliveries to Single Resident services, and providing the program offered 6,000 meals grocery center that travels to Occupancy (SRO) locations, and financial support to implement total at its 16 locations and underserved communities to residents could not easily shop these changes,” said DAS delivered 441 single meals per building maintenance and for their needs. Executive Director Shireen week to 63 clients. kitchen equipment upkeep, DAS McFadden. When COVID-19 restrictions “When the SRO food has been an essential source and guidelines began, DAS deliveries stopped, POH and of funding support for Project To help POH pivot its helped the CNP program adjust DAS quickly began working Open Hand. operations quickly, DAS, who together on the matter together provided $2.5 million to POH its model. Congregate meal But in early March of this and started discussing solutions. in the last fiscal year, gave an settings switched to pick-up year, the City of San Francisco Familiarity and trust between additional $750,000 in one- only and saw its number of and DAS demonstrated their our two organizations meant time-only funding through 6,000 meals a week rise to over ability to respond quickly. They that we knew what resources the GIVE2SF Response and 9,000 by early June. To help stepped up their support to were available and each could Recovery Fund, a special alleviate the increased costs of nonprofits like POH through quickly identify what was fund established by the City shifting production to create this most challenging and needed to design a solution,” and County of San Francisco. more frozen meals, DAS also unprecedented time – the McFadden said. “ Corporations, foundations and contributed an additional $3 COVID-19 pandemic. individuals gave to this $28.5 reimbursement per meal for 778 Residents at 10 SROs who When shelter-in-place orders million fund through the end of extra labor in producing and were in need of food during the went into effect on March 17, July. (POH also directly received storing a frozen meal. beginning months of shelter in the impact was felt on many over $2M from generous donors “Our ability to adjust place, began receiving meals. levels. Six CNP locations, which during these months). our services from a senior From the end of April to the end offer a communal setting of June, on average 2,123 meals With the DAS funding, POH congregate model to one that for seniors and adults with were delivered every week to is building a $175,000, 16 better met the needs of people disabilities, closed. The 125 these locations. Although the x 30 foot walk-in freezer for most at risk for COVID-19 would daily volunteers POH depends number of weekly deliveries additional storage capacity have been significantly reduced on were reduced to 28. Clients, has now dropped to 580 meals of more than 12,000 frozen without the quick action by many who fall within the at- due to the lifting of some medically tailored meals DAS. They quickly approved risk group, were forced to stay COVID restrictions, the initial and a new 11x16 foot fridge our plan to rapidly scale up our home. individually prepared meals and response helped many be food for storing raw ingredients, and nutrition secure during that But the demand for POH their funding provided us the produce, and dairy products. critical time services increased as an ability to increase our capacity Additionally, DAS is funding essential food service provider. to stay ahead of the increased The solutions DAS and POH continued page 5 Paul’s Letter Nutrition Security Dear Friend, Project Open Hand started out 35 years security), intestinal parasites, for instance, any of us are familiar with the term ago in both worlds; food security and can reduce nutrient uptake and thereby M“Food Security.” The United States nutrition security. We have refined and limit nutrient security.” Department of Agriculture Economic enhanced our nutrition offerings along the In our experience in the San Francisco Resource Service division describes it way. Bay Area, we regularly see people this way, “Very low food security (old From Day One, Ruth Brinker was ahead struggling to manage serious health label=Food insecurity with hunger): of the curve. Ruth served her “Meals with issues, trying to get by on low quality, Reports of multiple indications of disrupted less inexpensive calories that are often eating patterns and reduced food intake.” provided by well-meaning people and Food security, as defined by the United organizations. In such cases appropriate Nations’ Committee on World Food nutrient uptake is virtually impossible, Security, means that “all people, at all “garbage-in, garbage out”. The old times, have physical, social, and economic argument of “well, it’s better than no food access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious at all” is a terrible position to take in this food that meets their food preferences nation with so many resources. and dietary needs for an active and healthy At Project Open Hand, Nutrition Security life.” This latter definition is an improved, means a healthcare professional, such as a although still lacking attempt to provide registered dietitian, is involved in the meal focus to the role food plays in one’s overall planning. It means that a meal recipient’s quality of life. medical diagnosis is taken into account. Love” with special attention to her friends’ I’d like to introduce a new concept to It means that we examine the upstream health conditions, at that time, HIV/AIDS. sources of the food for our kitchen and you: Nutrition Security. This is achieved when an individual has regular and There is no one-size-fits-all. The degree grocery center, before it even reaches our reliable access to the food and nutrition of someone’s nutrition security varies by stoves and kettles. It even extends to the they require individually to maintain or individual requirement and other societal personal touch of when we deliver the improve their health status. While Food factors such as where they live, their social- food, or a client picks up their food for Security has traditionally focused on economic class and race and ethnicity. the week. hunger and calories, Nutrition Security Healthy food is more expensive. As highlighted in our cover story looks at individuals and their unique A 2013 study from Harvard School of about the support we receive from the dietary requirements — often specific to a Public Health found that eating a healthy Department of Disability and Aging chronic health condition or with an aim at diet (fruits, vegetables, fish, and nuts) costs Services, we need partners in this preventing adverse health outcomes. $1.50 more per day per person than eating movement. We need your assistance on Nearly every national and international an unhealthy diet (processed foods and every level, from advocacy and policy health and medical governing body will refined grains). It adds up. That's an extra making, to preparing meals and making point to the fact that nutrition is one of $2,200 each year for a family of four and a delivery of meals and groceries. These the key drivers to the rates of chronic that is likely a low estimate. times demand a thoughtful, thorough, health conditions that have been climbing Nutrition Security is a holistic approach and humane response. Please consider worldwide exponentially. In the United that addresses the other factors involved donating to openhand.org/donate. States alone, according to the Centers for in our food culture: climate change and Thank you.