Open Arms of Minnesota, a nonprofit meal delivery service in Minneapolis, has started a COVID-19 Response Program. We are spreading the word among MAND members since many of you may be working with COVID-19 patients or with those who are at risk of the virus.

This program was developed in partnership with Ramsey County to address the increased need for food assistance in our community. To be eligible for this new program, clients must meet ALL of the following requirements:

• be a Ramsey County resident

• be over the age of 18

• be homebound due to COVID-19 (directed to isolate of quarantine, health-compromised and need help accessing meals, or in a high-risk category as defined by the CDC)

• be experiencing financial hardship (i.e. reduction in work hours, experiencing job loss, etc.)

It should be noted that anyone eligible for Open Arms’ regular service (i.e. those who are living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, MS, ALS, ESRD, CHF, and COPD) IS NOT eligible under this new program. Additionally, clients are able to self-refer for this program, meaning they do not need a provider signature in order to complete their application.

Due to the homebound requirement, clients under this program will get their first meal delivery within 48 hours of Open Arms receiving a completed application. More information, as well as a fillable pdf form of the application, can be found on the Open Arms website at https://www.openarmsmn.org/getmeals/covid-19-response-program/.

If you know anyone who meets the eligibility requirements for the COVID-19 Response Program, please let them know about this program!

Brianna Tobritzhofer, MS, RD, LD
Nutrition Services Director
Open Arms of Minnesota
www.openarmsmn.org
brianna@openarmsmn.org