2024 YESvember Central
October 29, 2024
Events
Join an Event!
Open Arms events are not traditional. With the help of a team of incredible chefs working from our state-of-the-art kitchen, we create unforgettable gatherings that celebrate our belief that food is medicine. Throughout the year, we encourage volunteers, along with our generous donors and clients, to gather together and share their passion for our mission and compassion for our clients. Many of our events are open to the general public, too.
For more information, or if your organization is interested in partnering with Open Arms on an upcoming event, please contact us at [email protected].
Latest Event News
Plate It Forward
October 10, 2024
Cupcakes For A Cause 2024
August 13, 2024
TOAST! 2024
August 13, 2024
All-Year Events
Plate It Forward
Our beloved Pop-Up Dinners have been reimagined, rebranded and redesigned for you to introduce new friends to Open Arms. We’re thrilled to introduce you to our new event series: Plate it Forward.
Plate it Forward will still feature our signature intimate, multi-course special meals created by our talented chefs, paired with exquisite wines. However, these dinners will now focus on deepening understanding and connection between our programs and our neighbors, all taking place in our beautiful community space in either Minneapolis or St. Paul.
Here’s what makes Plate it Forward unique:
- Four exclusive dinners throughout the year, each offering a fresh way to engage with Open Arms programs, while supporting our clients and having fun!
- Each dinner will spotlight one of our key programs, providing opportunities to learn more and get involved in new and meaningful ways.
- Enjoy a four-course meal with expertly paired wines for $125.00 per person, with a suggestion on how an additional donation makes a difference in our client’s lives.
- Each dinner is designed to highlight a different element of Open Arms and serves as the perfect occasion to invite a friend who is new to Open Arms, enjoy a delightful evening, and support our vital work.
By attending Plate it Forward, you’re not just enjoying a memorable meal—you’re directly supporting the delivery of medically tailored meals to our neighbors, who need them most. Your participation truly makes a difference in the lives of our clients and their loved ones.
Annual Events
Moveable Feast
Known for its unique format, Moveable Feast started in 2004 as an opportunity for the Open Arms community to gather and support our clients. Instead of dining inside an event center, attendees step inside limos and travel to some of the best Twin Cities restaurants for creative, mouthwatering meals. A repeatedly sold-out event, Moveable Feast is Open Arms’ most-successful fundraiser of the year, bringing in nearly $500,000 and more than 450 attendees. Moveable Feast 2025 will take place on Thursday, May 15! 2024 EVENT WEBSITE
The Great Minnesota Bake Sale
The Great Minnesota Bake Sale is a campaign where a community of partners host a week-long “bake sale” to raise much-needed funds for the life-saving work of Open Arms of Minnesota. The first-ever Great Minnesota Bake Sale is set to take place from June 23 to June 29, 2024. This exciting event will see a network of bakeries, coffee shops, retailers, and online partners from across the Twin Cities Metro area come together to raise funds for Open Arms. A complete list of participating Bake Sale partners can be found at www.openarmsmn.org/bakesale
TOAST!
Current Open Arms volunteers are invited to TOAST!, a Volunteer Celebration typically held in the later half of the year. Instead of volunteers having to work when they’re in our kitchen, they’re guests of honor for the evening. Teams of Open Arms staff, led by chefs, create delicious dishes based on an evolving theme. Attendees have the opportunity to vote for their favorite dish, win prizes, and connect with fellow volunteers.
YESvember + Turkey Drive
Every Thanksgiving, Open Arms delivers a turkey, stuffing, and all the fixings for all clients who want them to enjoy. To support these additional meals, Open Arms hosts a Turkey Drive. Individuals, corporations, and community groups are encouraged to fundraise online to help provide Thanksgiving meals to their neighbors. The event is part of Open Arms’ YESvember celebration. During the month of November, we ask that you say YES to helping our clients and give the gift of nourishment. Look for fun related events throughout November!
Holiday Treats
Add a little bit of magic to your holiday season with some Open Arms’ Holiday Treats! Every holiday season, the Open Arms bakery is busy making pies, cookie dough, and other sweets for you and your family to enjoy. Enjoy a variety of baked goods specially made in our on-site bakery located in the heart of Minneapolis. Stay tuned for updated on Holiday Treats throughout November and December.
Decade Celebration
Each year, thousands of volunteers help Open Arms. Many of them are volunteers who have helped in the kitchen, taken delivery routes or spent time at Open Farms for years. Open Arms’ Decade Celebration honors volunteers who have spent at least 10 years of their life with Open Arms, dedicating thousands of hours to helping our clients.
