Open Arms Minnesota Expands with New St. Paul Campus

Wednesday, January 11th, 2023

To celebrate the official opening of their new St. Paul kitchen and campus, Open Arms of Minnesota hosted a “bread cutting” ceremony this week.

Open Arms of Minnesota is a non-profit organization that cooks and delivers free, nutritious meals to people living with life-threatening illnesses in the Twin Cities. The second location allows Open Arms to serve more people in need of healthy and medically tailored meals.

The celebration included a bread-cutting ceremony with Open Arms CEO Leah Hébert Welles, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Council member Rebecca Noecker.

“We are 30-some years old. Started in 1986 and started in the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Really at that time, our focus was getting meals to people who were sick. Now our focus continues to be meals for people who are sick with all different kinds of life-threatening illnesses. Now our focus really is the right meals,” said Open Arms CEO Leah Hébert Welles.

The new location in the Runway 52 building south of downtown St. Paul, is strategically designed to support Open Arms’ volunteer program, which annually involves over 7,500 people supporting the preparation and delivery of meals. To support the program, the space includes a volunteer lounge, training room and the building was modified with a new dedicated suite entrance, volunteer pick-up lane, new delivery door and truck drive.

Meals are free, medically tailored and prepared to be culturally relevant. Not only do clients receive meals, but dependents and caregivers are also included.

Open Arms relies on volunteers, needing 520 in Minneapolis and 350 in St. Paul each week. Learn more about Open Arms Minnesota and their volunteer opportunities here.

EVENT COVERAGE:

Open Arms of Minnesota expands reach with new St. Paul location, KARE 11

Open Arms Minnesota celebrates new space with ‘bread cutting’, Star Tribune