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12 October 2011
Project Open Hand is a local non-profit organization providing nutritional support to people living with HIV, serious illness and the elderly. Our goal at POH is to feed the body, mind and soul, through healthy meals, groceries and nutritional information, all delivered with love by our dedicated staff and volunteers. Project Open Hand is a huge fan of the Hayes Valley Farm. We are not only inspired by the urban organic and sustainable permaculture but incredibly grateful for the 25-pound donation of delicious produce that is collected from the farm each week to help support our Breast Cancer program. We strive to provide every client with the most nutritious & quality products, for which Hayes Valley Farm is among the most excellent of sources!
Project Open Hand started receiving produce from the farm in April, 2011, and it has quickly become a weekly favorite among our clients. When the delivery from Hayes Valley is received, opening each produce box feels like uncovering hidden treasure! The produce is an array of varying delights: arugula flowers, different squashes, campari tomatoes, kale – you name it. No matter how varied the harvest may be, every single item is guaranteed to be delicious. Our staff and volunteers bag a medley of the fruit and vegetables in individual portions where it is then offered in our Grocery Center. The Grocery Center at Project Open Hand is a program developed for our clients to select from a balanced menu of choices from each food group consisting of produce, proteins, dairy, grains, legumes and beverages. The selected items in a grocery bag at POH total 1/3 of one’s nutritional requirements for the week. Good nutrition can help an individual stay stronger and lead a healthier life and farm-fresh produce, free of chemicals and grown with love, is an excellent source of nourishment.
In addition to the Hayes Valley Farm’s produce selection, another favorite item we have introduced in our Grocery Center is our freshly ground peanut butter. Every day, POH staff and volunteers grind the peanut butter on site using one ingredient: peanuts! The peanuts are sourced in the United States and are a delicious and nutritious source of protein. The positive reaction to our freshly ground peanut butter allowed us to discover that we could share our product with the community and simultaneously spread awareness about Project Open Hand. We have begun retailing in local markets such as Whole Foods, Real Foods, Bi-Rite Market, and Harvest Urban Market and partnered with local businesses, namely Humphry Slocombe and Dynamo Donuts, who use our peanut butter in one of their delicious treats. Now, every tub of peanut butter that is sold provides a meal for one of our clients.
When we found out about this year’s first Harvest Festival, it was obvious to us there was no better place to be on October 16th! We’ll be sharing our tasty, homemade peanut butter on fresh fruit and veggies and chocolate covered pretzels at the event from 1–5 p.m.! The peanut butter will also be available for purchase; 100% of the proceeds go directly back into our organization.
So, mark your calendar and join us next week for fun-filled day at Hayes Valley Farm!
For more information about Project Open Hand and volunteer opportunities please visit www.openhand.org. Check out this video that tells our peanut story, too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guekIfWYhnQ
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Over a thousand volunteers, neighbors, and community members have helped coordinate the farm efforts.