Questions About Open Hands Food Pantry?

History

Open Hands Food Pantry was founded as a small food distribution program in the basement of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Royal in 1982. Still housed at St. John’s, Open Hands Food Pantry and Garden has grown into a high-impact community based organization with its own 501c3 nonprofit status. 

Times of Operation

Open Hands is usually open on the 1st and 3rd Saturday mornings (9:00am – 10:30am) of each month in a drive thru pantry. More information about our operations (days and hours) can be found HERE. Participants receive emergency food for a few days, including meat, bread, produce from our garden, some toiletries, as well as a substantial food package of non-perishable goods.  

Run by Volunteers

Open Hands Food Pantry is staffed by well over 100 volunteers. We love our volunteers! Our Volunteer Coordinators manage the food inventory, oversee the onsite operations, and recruit and schedule volunteers and groups. The programmatic vision and strategy of the organization are managed by a volunteer Board of Directors. 

How to Volunteer

Open Hands Food Pantry allows for and encourages the participation of many additional volunteers, including neighbors, schools, faith communities, businesses and civic groups. Volunteer roles include bagging and shelving food/other necessities to recipients; participating in events such as the Woodward Dream Cruise. Volunteers also plant, cultivate, harvest, and take fresh produce in the Open Hands Garden. To volunteer, sign up HERE

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Food Drives vs. Cash Donations

Why Food Pantries like Open Hands need Cash Donations rather then Food Drives

Q: I'd like to do something for Open Hands Food Pantry for the holidays. What do you need most? Can we do a food drive?

Q: My business/classroom would like to help Open Hands by doing a Food Drive. What items should we collect?

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A: Like many food pantries, Open Hands' distribution model gives everyone the same food package by family size. We no longer take food drives because it leaves us with an assortment of food (some of which is expired, dented or unusable), and it requires more sorting and packaging than we can accomplish. Open Hands uses cash donations to purchase food at Gleaners Food Bank for cents on the dollar. This stretches your dollars much further. 

When you donate a dollar, you're able to put more meals on the tables of families than if you donated food you'd purchased at the store. 

So, if you would like to donate to Open Hands Food Pantry during the holidays or at any time (and we really appreciate your donations!) please consider a cash donation. You can mail checks to:

Open Hands Food Pantry 26998 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak MI 48067

or give online HERE