Open Arms of Minnesota: Healing Health through Medically Tailored Meals

Open Arms of Minnesota Improves Health through Medically Tailored Meals

April 30, 2025

Volunteer meal delivery drivers at Open Arms of Minnesota often become a deeply embedded part of each client’s community of care. They typically drive the same route each week, see the same families and check in on their health and wellness. They witness firsthand when a malnourished individual with ALS shows dramatic improvements in quality of life after regularly eating Open Arms’ medically tailored meals. They see a reduction in stress levels when a single mom with cancer receives nutritious food not only for herself but also for her child. From an elderly couple, they hear that they have time to play cards together now that they aren’t spending all their time trying to understand, access and cook meals that adhere to the complex low-phosphate diet required to manage end-stage renal disease. On clients’ birthdays, drivers may even be invited inside to share a slice of the birthday cake they deliver.

“The delivery people I’ve had always take a few minutes to visit me and see how I am. They really listen, and really care. Every one of my delivery people has reached out and been kind and listened. Aside from the nutritional impact, that has a healing aspect.”
Open Arms of Minnesota client

Open Arms prepares and delivers medically tailored meals at no cost to critically ill Minnesotans and their loved ones. Using organic and sustainable agricultural practices, Open Arms harvests many of its own fresh ingredients. Registered dietitians and in-house chefs plan and prepare made-from-scratch meals intentionally designed to support disease management and to taste good. These meals are then delivered to thousands of individuals with serious illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, ALS, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, end-stage renal disease and more.

Because of Takeda’s support, Open Arms has been able to launch two new programs: (1) culturally appropriate medically tailored meals to serve Hmong and East African clients, and (2) grocery bags of medically tailored foods for clients who want to cook for themselves but are unable to access a grocery store. In addition, Takeda volunteers have served in Open Arms’ kitchen, prepping vegetables and portioning meals according to the exact specifications required by the disease management program.

“Takeda’s multi-year funding is a game-changer. It enables us to invest in our organization confidently and pilot new initiatives to better serve the needs of our clients. Because the funding is unrestricted, we are able to pivot nimbly as community needs change.”
Emily Essert, director of development, Open Arms of Minnesota

Open Arms of Minnesota’s community impact (Fiscal Year 2023-2024)¹

873,623

meals delivered

3,640

individuals served

1,300

pounds of vegetables and herbs harvested

41

different crops grown

>13 million

total meals delivered over 35 years

94%

of clients say Open Arms meals improved or maintained their health

References

https://www.openarmsmn.org/about-us/our-impact/