Open Hand Atlanta: How This Local Nonprofit Nourishes the City — And How You Can Help

If you live in Atlanta or are new to the area and looking for meaningful volunteer opportunities, Open Hand Atlanta is one of the city’s most recognizable nonprofits focused on food, nutrition, and community health. It plays a major role in getting nutritious meals to neighbors who might otherwise go without.

This guide explains what Open Hand Atlanta does, who it serves, how it works in the broader Atlanta community, and what you can do to get involved.

What Is Open Hand Atlanta?

Open Hand Atlanta is an Atlanta-based nonprofit that prepares and delivers medically tailored meals and nutrition education to people who are:

• Living with serious or chronic illnesses
• Older adults and homebound seniors
• People with disabilities or limited mobility
• Individuals and families facing food insecurity

The organization’s work is rooted in a simple idea: access to nutritious food can support better health and stability. For many Atlantans, especially those with limited income, transportation barriers, or complex medical conditions, cooking healthy meals every day is not realistic. Open Hand steps in to close that gap.

Where Is Open Hand Atlanta Located?

Open Hand Atlanta’s primary operations are run from its facility in Midtown Atlanta:

Open Hand Atlanta
181 Armour Drive NE
Atlanta, GA 30324
Phone: 404-872-2707

This location houses its large production kitchen, distribution operations, and many of its volunteer activities.

What Does Open Hand Atlanta Do?

Open Hand focuses on three main areas: meal preparation and delivery, medically tailored nutrition, and nutrition education.

1. Meal Preparation and Delivery

Open Hand Atlanta prepares thousands of meals in its commercial kitchen and distributes them throughout the metro area. These meals are typically:

• Individually packaged and portion-controlled
• Designed to meet specific dietary and medical needs
• Delivered directly to clients’ homes or drop sites

Common meal types include:

• Heart-healthy meals
• Low-sodium options
• Diabetic-friendly meals
• Meals tailored for certain chronic conditions, as required by different programs

This is especially important in Atlanta neighborhoods where grocery access is limited or where residents rely heavily on public transportation.

2. Medically Tailored Meals

A major feature of Open Hand Atlanta is its focus on medically tailored meals (MTMs). These are meals customized to support people managing specific health conditions, such as:

• Heart disease and hypertension
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Compromised immune systems

Meals are planned by nutrition professionals so that clients receive food that supports their overall health goals, as determined by their care providers or program guidelines. In Atlanta, this can significantly help residents who are juggling:

• Frequent medical appointments
• Limited energy to cook
• Restricted diets that are hard to maintain on a tight budget

3. Nutrition Education and Counseling

Beyond delivering meals, Open Hand also offers nutrition education and, in some cases, individual counseling. These services aim to help Atlanta residents:

• Understand how food choices affect health
• Learn how to prepare more nutritious meals at home
• Navigate specific diets related to chronic conditions

Programming can include:

• Group nutrition classes in community settings
• Educational materials distributed with meals
• One-on-one sessions for eligible clients

These services often partner with local clinics, hospitals, and community organizations across Atlanta.

Who Does Open Hand Atlanta Serve?

Open Hand works with a wide range of Atlantans through different programs. While eligibility details can vary, many clients fall into these groups:

Seniors and Homebound Adults

Many of Open Hand’s clients are older adults—especially those:

• Living alone
• With limited mobility
• Who cannot shop or cook reliably

In the Atlanta area, this can include seniors in:

• Midtown and downtown high-rise senior housing
• Westside and South Atlanta neighborhoods with fewer grocery options
• Suburban areas where transportation is a major challenge

People Living With Chronic or Serious Illness

Open Hand Atlanta often serves individuals who are:

• Living with chronic illnesses requiring special diets
• Recovering from major health events
• Managing multiple health conditions at once

Meals can be connected to healthcare referrals or social service agencies, helping clients stay more stable at home rather than relying on costly emergency care.

Atlantans Facing Food Insecurity

Some programs also support people and families experiencing food insecurity—those who are unsure where their next meal will come from or cannot consistently afford balanced food.

In Atlanta, this might include:

• Residents of neighborhoods with limited full-service grocery stores
• People recently unemployed or underemployed
• Individuals juggling housing, medical, and food costs at the same time

Open Hand often coordinates with other local nonprofits, food banks, and community organizations to ensure services complement one another rather than duplicate.

How Open Hand Fits Into Atlanta’s Community and Services Network

Atlanta has a broad network of food and health resources, and Open Hand is a key part of that system.

Connections to Healthcare Providers

Open Hand Atlanta often works alongside:

• Hospitals and clinics in the Emory, Grady, Piedmont, and other health systems
• Community health centers scattered throughout Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, and Clayton counties
• Case managers, social workers, and care coordinators

Clients may be referred through medical providers or through coordinated care programs. This makes Open Hand part of a larger strategy to help Atlantans stay healthier at home.

Coordination With Other Nonprofits

Open Hand operates in a city where there are many other organizations addressing food access, such as food pantries, shelters, and community kitchens. It stands out because of its emphasis on:

• Medically tailored nutrition
• Consistent, scheduled meal delivery
• Close alignment with health and social-service partners

For Atlanta residents, this means Open Hand often fills a niche that standard food pantry or meal programs cannot easily cover.

Volunteer Opportunities at Open Hand Atlanta

If you’re looking for a way to give back in Atlanta, Open Hand is known for being volunteer-friendly with roles that fit different schedules and comfort levels.

Common Volunteer Roles

Typical volunteer opportunities include:

• Meal packing and assembly

  • Portioning prepared food into containers
  • Labeling meals and organizing them for distribution

• Kitchen support

  • Basic food prep tasks under staff direction
  • Following food safety and cleanliness guidelines

• Meal delivery support

  • Helping load vehicles or assist with route preparation
  • In some cases, participating in delivery runs, depending on program needs

• Special projects or events

  • Seasonal activities (e.g., holidays)
  • Larger community outreach events or fundraisers

📌 Tip: Many Atlanta residents volunteer in small groups—friends, coworkers, student clubs, and faith groups often book shifts together.

What to Expect as a Volunteer

When you sign up to volunteer at Open Hand in Atlanta, you can generally expect:

• A scheduled shift (often a few hours)
• A brief orientation or training, especially if it’s your first time
• A focus on food safety, cleanliness, and organization
• A diverse group of volunteers from across metro Atlanta

Volunteering is usually accessible by car and rideshare; the Armour Drive location is near major corridors like Monroe Drive, Piedmont Road, and the I-85 connector.

How to Get Involved With Open Hand Atlanta

There are several ways Atlantans typically connect with Open Hand:

1. Volunteering

You can:

• Sign up as an individual volunteer
• Register as a group (business teams, student organizations, civic clubs, faith-based groups, etc.)

Many local employers and schools encourage volunteering at Open Hand as part of community service or team-building efforts.

2. Referring Someone (Through Professionals)

If you’re a:

• Healthcare provider, case manager, or social worker
• Community organization staff member
• Senior services coordinator

…you may be able to help someone access Open Hand’s meal programs by referring them through existing partnerships or program channels. Referral processes can differ depending on the program and funding source, so professionals typically contact the organization directly for details.

3. Supporting as an Atlanta Resident

Even if you don’t have time to volunteer regularly, Atlantans often support Open Hand by:

• Participating in local fundraising events
• Encouraging local organizations, clubs, or workplaces to schedule group volunteer days
• Sharing information with neighbors or family members who might qualify for services

Practical Overview: Open Hand Atlanta at a Glance

When Open Hand Atlanta Might Be the Right Fit

Open Hand Atlanta may be particularly relevant if you:

• Are an Atlanta resident managing a serious health condition, and your doctor or social worker mentions meal support options
• Have an older family member in Atlanta who struggles with consistent, healthy meals
• Work in healthcare, social services, or senior care and need a trusted local partner for meal assistance
• Are simply looking for a reliable, long-standing volunteer opportunity in the city focused on food and community health

For the most accurate and current information on eligibility, programs, and volunteer scheduling, it’s best to contact Open Hand Atlanta directly using the phone number or mailing address above or by checking their most recent public materials.

For anyone connected to Atlanta—residents, visitors looking to give back while in town, or professionals serving the community—Open Hand Atlanta is a central player in making sure nutritious meals reach neighbors who need them most.