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SOUTHERN VOICE NOVEMBER3/1994
Chefs do their part for Project Open Hand (L-R): Camille Sotis of Camille’s, Delia
Champion of the Flying Biscuit and Billy Kennedy of the Georgia Grille.
Atlanta restaurants gear
up for Dining Out for Life
Project Open Hand event
is expected to raise $75,000
Food—it’s one of the most basic needs
for any human’s survival. But for a person
with AIDS, the importance of good nutrition
is magnified; the chances of survival for a
person with AIDS are greatly increased when
his or her dietary needs are met. Before there
was a Project Open Hand, many PWAs in
Atlanta had no support system to meet those
needs, and their physical conditions wors
ened as a result.
Project Open Hand had one simple goal
when it was launched: to prepare and deliver
freshly cooked meals to those people with
AIDS or HIV related illnesses and disabili
ties who need them. This goal has been met.
To date, not one man, woman or child has
been denied the group’s services.
To help ensure Project Open Hand’s con
tinued ability to meet demand, Atlanta res
taurants are participating in the second an
nual Dining Out for Life, a fundraiser for the
organization. On November 9, more than 167
Atlanta area restaurants will donate at least
20% of their ticket receipts for the entire day
to the organization.
Virtually any kind of dining experience
you prefer that day is available, due to the
large number of participating eateries. You
can spend the whole day eating out and at the
same time support Project Open Hand’s good
work.
Elbow your way in to the before-work
rush at Bagel Break for breakfast, or take a
leisurely amount of time instead at The Fly
ing Biscuit. Take a lunch meeting at Houston’s
(either location) with a client, or rock out
with office mates at the Hard Rock Cafe. And
have virtually any kind of food you want for
dinner, from eclectic at the African Brown
Bag to exotic at the Imperial Fez. And don’t
forget the most important part of eating—
dessert—at the Dessert Place or Sweet Stuff.
There are many, many more choices than
these—a complete list can be found on post
ers around the city (see also the advertise
ment in this issue). The list also makes a great
year-round refrigerator magnet accessory,
from which to answer those persistent “Where
should we eat tonight?” questions.
Ava Diamond, executive director of
Project Open Hand, says, “Dining Out for
Life is a critical fundraising event that en
ables Project Open Hand to grow as the de
mands for our services steadily rises. Through
increasing restaurant participation, and by edu
cating Atlantans on the importance of help
ing others living with AIDS and HIV related
illnesses, we’re projecting Dining Out for Life
to be one of our most successful fundraising
events to date.”
Indeed, Dining Out for Life has become,
in just two short years, a great source of sup
port for Project Open Hand. Last year, the
inaugural year of the fundraiser, the event
brought $50,000 to the organization. This year,
the fundraiser is expected to increase that by
at least 50%, to jump the total to $75,000.
At present, Project Open Hand operates
on a $1.5 million dollar annual budget, a rate
of about $2,555 per client. With an average
of about 40 new clients each month, currently
the client list is about 450. A depressing fact:
by 1995, that number is expected to reach
1,000.
When Project Open Hand began its mis
sion in 1988, only 14 clients were on the list
for delivered meals that helped not only to
reduce the amount of time necessary for hos
pital stays, but also for the client to maintain
some measure of self-reliance. With the ever
increasing need for Project Open Hand’s ser
vices, volunteer work and financial aid are
vital to its survival. A total of one million
freshly cooked meals have been prepared,
packed and delivered, by 1,400 volunteers
since Project Open Hand’s inception. The or
ganization provides meals for residents at
Jerusalem House, Walton House, Common
Ground and Sisterlove, in addition to home
less people who are HIV-infected.
MCI Communications, which also spon
sored the recent production of “Angels in
America” at the Alliance Theatre, is sponsor
ing Dining Out for Life, the first time it has
done so.
“The company took a proactive approach
in forming this alliance by contacting us to
extend their support,” said Diamond.
BRIAN COCHRAN
For more information, call Project Open
Hand at 525-4620.
COMER YATES
for Congress — 4th District
Democrat
COMER YATES BELIEVES IN...
Quality Health Care
Increasing access to health care, containing
the cost, promoting prevention, providing for
catastrophic care, and allowing people to
choose their doctors.
Trustworthy Government
Demanding high ethical standards and
accountability for public officials.
A Woman’s Right to Choose
Government should not intrude on a woman's
most personal and private decision.
VOTE NOVEMBER 8
Paid for by the Comer Yates for Congress Committee
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