40th Anniversary
Open Arms Celebrates 40 Years Of Nourishing Our Neighbors
Open Arms of Minnesota marks its 40th anniversary at a moment that holds both reflection and resolve. The milestone comes during a time of deep pain and even greater pride for the Minneapolis community. In the face of these challenges, Open Arms remains steadfast in its mission—to show up for critically ill neighbors with dignity, nourishment, and care. For four decades, resilience, compassion, and commitment have defined the organization, and those values continue to guide its work today.
The story of Open Arms began in 1986 with a simple yet profound act of kindness. Founder Bill Rowe started cooking meals in his apartment and delivering them to individuals living with AIDS, at a time when both the illness and the community it affected were met with widespread stigma. What began as one person’s response to need grew into a powerful model of care rooted in empathy, hope, and the belief that food is medicine—principles that remain central to our mission.
Throughout 2026, this legacy will be honored while looking ahead to the future. Signature events will bring the community together in remembrance and celebration. Complementing these moments, Open Arms launched a “40 Years, 40 North Stars” initiative, a yearlong storytelling and recognition campaign highlighting the individuals, organizations, and partners who have helped shape the mission over four decades. These stories will celebrate a shared history while illuminating the values that continue to lead the way forward.
At its core, this anniversary is a tribute to the Open Arms community: the clients and caregivers who trust the organization during their most vulnerable moments; the volunteers who prepare, pack, and deliver meals through every season; the staff who bring skill, creativity, and humanity to their work each day; and the donors and partners who believe that people facing critical illness deserve both nourishment and dignity.
As Open Arms moves forward, it does so with gratitude for all that has come before and hope for what lies ahead. What began around a small table has grown into a community united by care, and that table continues to expand. Always, ALWAYS with room for one more.
Events
Throughout 2026, we’ll be marking this anniversary with moments that honor our history while looking boldly toward the future. Please mark your calendars for these special events:
- Decade Celebration – March 5 – PHOTOS
- 22nd Annual Moveable Feast Gala – Thursday, May 7 – PHOTOS
- 40th Birthday Party – Saturday, September 19 – EVENT DETAILS
- A Table Built on Love: A World AIDS Day Celebration – Thursday, December 3
Interested in sponsorship opportunities for our 40th Birthday Pary? Find more information via the link below or reach out to Emily Essert at [email protected].
40 North Stars
Coinciding with our special events, Open Arms launched a yearlong storytelling and recognition campaign honoring the people and partners who have helped guide our mission for four decades. Titled “40 Years, 40 North Stars,” the campaign will honor 40 individuals, organizations, and entities who have helped light the way for Open Arms since 1986. Together, these stories will celebrate our shared history while illuminating the values that continue to guide us into the future.
Dennis Louie
Dennis has been a volunteer since 1992, and is one of the organization’s 3 longest active volunteers. Starting out cooking his own recipes for clients in the basement kitchen at First Congregational Church almost 40 years ago, he has volunteered regularly for almost four decades and more than 5000 hours at special events, in the kitchen, and doing special projects for almost every area of the organization.
Marjie Smith
Marjie has been volunteering regularly since 2002 and is one of Open Arms’ 10 volunteers with the most lifetime hours - more than 5,800 hours. Marjie has helped at events, with special projects and is a familiar sight at the reception desk where she has volunteered for decades, serving our clients with dedication.
Sabine and Dudley Barksdale
Sabine received a referral to Open Arms in 2006 by her doctor's office, and although she didn’t become a client, she became a volunteer. She has been active in the kitchen, done laundry, worked in the bakery, done special projects, helped at special events and greeted visitors at the reception desk for 15 years. Sabine and Dudley delivered to clients during COVID and are long time and generous funders.
Heather Goetz
Heather has been volunteering since 2015 and is the #1 volunteer at Open Arms with THE MOST total hours volunteered ever - more than 8300! Heather continues to volunteer several times per week - in BOTH St. Paul and Minneapolis - in the kitchens, operations and in delivery.
Lisa Genis
Lisa has been volunteering since 1998, and is one of the five active volunteers with the most lifetime hours - more than 6000! She is also one of the longest and most consistent donors - she has baked, biked, fundraised, cooked, chopped, packed and delivered as a volunteer for Open Arms. With her husband Steve who started volunteering in 2001, she has been a familiar face for decades in the bakery.
Dottie Johnson
Not only has Dottie’s picture made it into about half of the publications at Open Arms, she has been volunteering since 1995. She delivered to clients every week until 2022, and she made it a family affair, bringing her children and her grandchildren on routes for years. She continues to come in and volunteer on special projects, and is also one of our longest and most consistent donors.
Golden Girls, Cathy Borer
The Golden Girls were a fixture every Friday in our kitchens from the 1990’s to the late 2010’s. Cathy started volunteering in 2000 and met the other “girls”, and remained close with Carol, Pat N, Phyllis and Pat M throughout the rest of their lives. Open Arms brought them together, nourished their friendships and became a part of their lives.
Golden Girls, Ann Fankhanel
Ann became an honorary Golden Girl as she volunteered on Fridays for years in the kitchen and became close with the rest of the “girls.” Fridays meant a fun kitchen shift, maybe a client delivery route and sometimes lunch and a glass of wine. Ann stayed close with the “girls” through the ends of their lives, she is also a longtime and generous donor.
Tracy and Karen Appelbaum
Although they both started volunteering in 1995, Tracy was first. They met at Open Arms, became friends, fell in love and married. The first place their daughter went after she was born was Open Arms. From the church basement to present day, together they have volunteered for more than 4,000 hours and they continue to deliver to clients more than 31 years later.
Phil Willkie
Known as our founder Bill’s best friend, Phil has been volunteering at Open Arms since day one in 1986. He has delivered to clients for almost 4 decades - first driven by the friends he saw dying of AIDS. Phil is one of the longest and most vocal supporters of Open Arms, and has raised money for our clients through bike rides, and every kind of party and special event.
