Project Open Hand’s
10th Annual Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival Sept 10 & 11

 

In 1985 in San Francisco, Ruth Brinker, a retired grandmother, watched a dear friend die of AIDS. She realized that for many people with HIV/AIDS, malnutrition was causing death as much as the illness itself. Brinker enlisted the help of her friends, secured a basement kitchen at a local church and began to serve meals to seven clients.

In 1985 in San Francisco, Ruth Brinker, a retired grandmother, watched a dear friend die of AIDS. She realized that for many people with HIV/AIDS, malnutrition was causing death as much as the illness itself. Brinker enlisted the help of her friends, secured a basement kitchen at a local church and began to serve meals to seven clients.

Project Open Hand has been growing ever since. In 1989, they started serving people with AIDS in Alameda County and in 1997 moved to its current home on 730 Polk Street. In 1998, they began serving congregate lunches to seniors at various sites throughout San Francisco and in 2000 expanded its services to provide Meals with Love to people who are homebound and critically ill.

"There's no greater feeling in the world than to bring food to someone who really needs it." Brinker says. Her vision of "nutrition with compassion" is being shared with other people in need. People who have limited social services available to them and are in need of the comfort these meals provide.

The 10th Annual Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival, benefiting Project Open Hand, will take place Saturday and Sunday, September 10 and 11, 2005, from 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm. This is a free & public event - except for chocolate tasting. The Chocolate Festival hosts more than 20 booths each day featuring a variety of chocolate delicacies from some of the best Bay Area restaurants and bakeries. Activities for the entire family will take place for your enjoyment throughout both days including chef demonstrations, children’s Chocoland and live music. openhand.org