Open Arms Update From CEO, Leah Hebert Welles
Dear Open Arms Community,
This fall, we are hearing from many of you, asking how our clients are doing in the face of SNAP cuts and other resources being eliminated. We wanted to reach out, give you an update and let you know about ways you can help put meals on the table for our most vulnerable neighbors.
First some gratitude – thank you for standing with Open Arms to show genuine care and compassion for the critically ill clients of Open Arms —those courageously battling critical illnesses and food insecurity. Our Open Arms family responds time and time again, providing hope and encouragement through volunteer hours and generous financial support when our community needs it most.
And right now, as you know, our community is hurting. As a result of the federal government shutdown, and factors in our own backyard, the support systems for our clients are being scaled back—or eliminated entirely.
What the Shutdown Means for Our Clients:
The shutdown has indefinitely stopped all SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) payments leaving hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans without nutrition assistance. This affects many of our clients who rely on SNAP to help feed their families, especially during their own personally challenging health crisis. Even if a client receives our meals, SNAP may help them provide meals for their caregivers or dependents. It may also help clients buy protein shakes, Boost or other supplements for those who need extra calories in addition to our medically tailored meals.
Additionally, during the shutdown, our clients are experiencing a lack of other resources, as many of the safety net services like non-profits and government agencies that they depend on have been forced to shut their doors or limit their hours due to a lack of funding. For our clients – who generally have critical health conditions complicated by multiple life factors and crises – that means no access to case managers, social workers and other helpers.
What Open Arms Is Doing To Respond:
Staff members are onboarding new clients quickly and efficiently this month to ensure that they get the meals they need as fast as we can get them delivered or shipped. In addition, Open Arms’ client services associates are spending extra time with clients on the phones, ensuring that they get connected to the resources they need. In addition, we are maintaining services for clients who are extremely food-insecure and who are lacking SNAP resources, making sure that we remain a stable resource in our client’s lives.
What You Can Do To Help:
Please watch your inbox and mailbox. This fall and winter, we are inviting you to partner with us to meet the growing demand. Some ways to help your neighbors:
🦃 YESvember – Say “YES” this November to Thanksgiving feasts and increased meal support for our clients and their families. Open Arms of Minnesota | YESvember
💛 Give to the Max Day – Join Minnesota’s annual giving tradition to support our mission. Open Arms of Minnesota | GiveMN
🎁 2025 Gift Catalog – Year-end giving opportunities. Support our clients while giving meaningful gifts to your loved ones. Watch for our 2025 Gift Catalog in your mailbox.
💰 Year-End Giving Options – Stock gifts, IRA QCDs, Donor Advised Funds, checks—even piggy banks emptied with love—all add up to life-changing support.
And if you have some extra time, we invite you to volunteer at one of our two locations. This is our busiest time of year, and we can use all the help we can get making sure healing meals reach the clients who need them.
Thank you for turning compassion into action. As we approach 2026, we’re deeply grateful to have you by our side. Together, we will keep showing up for our critically ill neighbors.
Warmly,
Leah Hebert Welles
CEO, Open Arms of Minnesota
