Open Arms of Minnesota Partners With Mayo Clinic To Provide Medically Tailored Meals To American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Rochester
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Ethan Armstrong
[email protected]
Cell: 320-815-2351
MINNEAPOLIS, MN (October 7, 2025) – Open Arms of Minnesota has partnered with Mayo Clinic to supply the American Cancer Society Richard M. Schulze Hope Lodge in Rochester, Minn., with weekly medically tailored meals beginning in early October. Supported through Mayo Clinic’s Community Contributions Program, Open Arms will deliver 21 meals each week from its flavor-neutral menu to support Hope Lodge guests undergoing cancer treatment.
“Our guests are facing incredibly difficult journeys, and the stress that comes with treatment can be overwhelming,” said Hope Lodge General Manager Jennifer O’Donnell. “Providing meals not only eases a daily burden—it offers comfort, care, and a sense of community. Knowing they don’t have to worry about cooking after a long day of treatment is a gift in itself. We truly appreciate this act of kindness and are excited about the partnership.”
The Mayo Clinic is committed to supporting initiatives that address identified community health needs, enhance community vibrancy, and advance belonging, collaboration, and stewardship. The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Rochester, which opened in 1999, offers 62 guest rooms located near treatment centers in the area. The program provides a free home away from home for cancer patients and their caregivers. Each Hope Lodge community offers a supportive, homelike environment where guests can share a meal, join in the evening’s activities, or unwind in their own private room.
Based in the Twin Cities, Open Arms is the only nonprofit organization in the Upper Midwest dedicated to providing nourishing, medically tailored meals to individuals with critical illnesses. Through its innovative shipping program, Open Arms can deliver meals across Minnesota within a two-day shipping window, ensuring access well beyond the Twin Cities metro.
“We’re thrilled to launch this partnership with Mayo Clinic and honored to support the Hope Lodge in Rochester with the comfort, care, and hope baked into every one of our meals,” said Open Arms CEO Leah Hebert Welles. “Our capacity to reach critically ill Minnesotans statewide brings us closer to a future where every person facing serious illness has access to the nutrition they deserve.”
For more information about Open Arms, medically tailored meal access, or partnership opportunities, please contact Open Arms Business Partnerships Manager Emilie Cagnazzo at [email protected].
