Kraus Anderson is Welcomed by Open Arms

By Madeline Gerhardt

Madeline Gerhardt was a summer administrative assistant intern in the Minneapolis office and a student at Berklee College of Music.

On June 24, 2016, five Kraus-Anderson volunteers spent four hours at Open Arms of Minnesota in Minneapolis preparing meals for community members affected by life-threatening illnesses.

Four of the five volunteers had participated before and returned because they enjoyed the experience. The group found the work calming and rewarding, with the opportunity to focus on each task and contribute to an organized, meaningful process.

Together, volunteers packed:

  • 99 chicken lasagna entrées
  • 143 parsnip curry entrées
  • 200 green salads

In total, the team prepared 442 meals.

About Open Arms of Minnesota

Open Arms supports people affected by life-threatening illnesses by preparing and delivering free, healthy meals. The organization serves people living with cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis and ALS, along with caregivers and others supporting those affected by illness.

Clients receive a week’s supply of meals, including breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. According to Open Arms, “We believe that eating delicious, nutritious meals helps make our clients’ medicines and treatments more effective, so they are able to lead healthier, more independent lives.”

Most meals are prepared in-house, and Open Arms had also begun growing some vegetables. As of June 2016, 1,000 clients relied on Open Arms deliveries.

Preparing Meals With Care

Open Arms provides options for different dietary needs and preferences, including vegan and vegetarian meals, homemade baked goods and pastries. Chefs and nutrition specialists work together to develop nutritious meals, and each meal is labeled with its ingredients.

The organization also places a strong emphasis on food safety and cleanliness. Before entering the kitchen, volunteers scrub their hands and arms with warm water and soap, wear hairnets and use hand sanitizer. Volunteers are encouraged to change gloves between meal-preparation tasks.

The process highlights the care that goes into every meal and the importance of protecting the health of people receiving them.

“I have worked at Open Arms twice now, and I am impressed by how well organized everything is and by the thought that goes into creating the meals,” said Dian Parnell, administrative assistant at Kraus-Anderson Realty Company.

“I believe in their mission to help people in need and provide healthy meals customized to their needs,” said Jamie Nagel Colbjornsen, property manager at KA Realty. “I enjoy the clean, upbeat location, and the people are amazing to work with.”

Learn more about the KA Has Heart spotlight on Open Arms of Minnesota, KA Has Heart volunteering in the community, community involvement and the KA Has Heart employee volunteer program.