I'm 64 years old, a father of two and a grandfather of five. I've been living with AIDS since 1991.
I retired from my job in 1992 with a terminal diagnosis. A friend suggested I help him with his Project Open Hand delivery route as a way to fill my time.
I made my first home deliveries the week before Thanksgiving in 1992 and delivered meals for about 2 years until my own health issues made it impossible to continue.
The people we were delivering touched my heart and convinced me this was work I should continue to do; however, AIDS got in the way. I had to give up delivery because my own health wouldn't allow it.
In December 1993, we delivered meals and groceries to a home on one of the most dangerous blocks in West Oakland. At that time, the program provided a hot meal to everyone on our list and then a large bag of prepacked staples to select a few. This address had 4 meals and 4 bags of groceries to be delivered. We knocked on the door and the client refused to open it.
After going back and forth, I finally convinced them to open the door: There stood four little boys, the oldest, maybe 10 years old, trying to protect his little brothers from the neighborhood. The boys were so grateful, as there was no food in the house. We had food insecurity in my home as children, but nothing like this. I have kids the same age, and so I often wonder how those men are doing today.
In 1996, I actually was assigned a hospice nurse. Everything changed for me and so many others with the introduction of protease inhibitors. I fought my way back and started delivering meals again in 2004. But like me, so many clients were able to get out and pick up meals and groceries themselves. In 2006, I transitioned to volunteering at the Grocery Center.
I'm so grateful for the friendships I've formed through Project Open Hand, not only with staff and other volunteers but with the clients as well. After serving some clients for more than 20 years, I've become invested in making sure we all keep going.
Project Open Hand has never strayed from its mission.
I think that's important as I'm also very committed to the clients in the East Bay. Too often, people think we only serve San Francisco, so I'm here to champion the cause over here in Oakland.
