TPujari Inc as a part of their charitable work for the community recently participated in the program organized by Open Hand of Atlanta. Thirteen members from the group volunteered 4 hours each on March 29th, 2009, to pack 3000 food packets. Esha, a seven year old girl was part of the Pujari group, being as enthusiastic as the rest of the team. Kids had real fun while helping local community and making a real difference in peoples’ lives. 

Project Open Hand is a volunteer maintained and operated non-profit organization offering hot meals, grocery service, and nutrition education to those who qualify in both San Francisco and Alameda Counties. Beneficiaries of the project include men and women infected with HIV/AIDS, critically ill or homebound individuals, as well as people over the age of 60 years in need of meal service or nutritional education. 

Project Open Hand was created in 1985 by Ruth Brinker, a retired grandmother who recognized the relatively small number of social services for those infected with HIV/AIDS. She noticed the effects of malnutrition on the terminally ill from watching a number of her friends struggle to get proper nourishment during their illness. After noticing a growing problem, the idea for delivering hot meals to them was born, and a positive impact was soon to follow. Ruth began by delivering meals to 7 of her friends, and from there, the word quickly spread.

Project Open Hand receives the majority of its funding through private donations, with small amounts taken in from local governmental agencies. There is also a direct donation from the United Way. Food service operations, such as the preparation of hot meals, bagging of groceries, and delivery of food to those in need are all conducted by the 125 daily volunteers in combination with the full and part-time staff of 130 people.

Pujari has been part of many community benefit charitable work not only here in the United States but also around the world, and was honored to take part in this project. Pujari Inc also donated money to Open Hand which will be spent towards expenses related to food and packing materials.

Pujari requests everyone to join them and be part of the team so that together we can make a difference. For more information please visit their website www.pujari.org.