It’s a simple notion, people who are sick should not be without food. Yet, every day, our neighbors with life-threatening illnesses find themselves unable to shop or cook — and, often without a support network to help.
That’s where Open Arms of Minnesota comes in. Open Arms of Minnesota is a nonprofit organization that prepares and delivers medically tailored meals at no cost to critically ill Minnesotans and their loved ones. Their registered dietitians and in-house chefs create delicious, medically tailored menus using fresh and organic ingredients whenever possible. Through the support of a loving community of donors and volunteers, they harvest, cook, and deliver nutritious, made-from-scratch meals directly to their clients.
To accomplish this mission, Open Arms employs a fleet of vehicles to allow them to meet the community’s needs. Brand Ink helped Open Arms put those vehicles to another important use—raising awareness for their cause. Seeing an Open Arms vehicle pull up in your neighborhood is a reminder how close to home the problem truly is.
With an ever-expanding list of needs in the community and growing list of donors to make it all possible, Open Arms built a second location in St Paul. The new space needed to match the vibrancy of the meals they prepare.
Director of Communications, Ethan Armstrong, took the reins on this design project for Open Arms. He invited Brand Ink out to review his plans, verify measurements, and provide specs on the finished look he was seeking to achieve.
The collaboration between Open Arms and Brand Ink started with a detailed walkthrough led by Ethan Armstrong, Open Arms’ Director of Communications. Ethan and Jerry from Brand Ink reviewed the vision for the new St. Paul space, confirmed measurements, and outlined a plan to bring the space to life. Jerry ensured that all surfaces were prepped and ready for branding, and that everything would be accessible for the installation.
Following this, Brand Ink’s design and operations team quickly moved forward. Olivia from the design team contacted Ethan for the artwork files, while Nick from operations provided quotes and scheduled the install. Ethan was pleasantly surprised by the quick turnaround time, with everything ready for installation within just a few days.
On installation day, Jerry’s team completed the work flawlessly. The new space was ready for opening day with zero stress, showcasing Brand Ink’s precision and attention to detail.
Now when groups of volunteers come to Open Arms to help prepare meals, not only do they have a beautiful new space to do it in, but they also have a space that helps tell the story about why what they do is so important to the community. The new environment not only supports the organization’s mission but also serves as a visual representation of the love and dedication Open Arms puts into every meal they deliver.
Brand Ink used top-quality materials and a well-coordinated process to create a space that reflects the heart of Open Arms’ mission, seamlessly integrating design with purpose.
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Brand Ink has been an invaluable partner to Open Arms in recent years. Their expert team of designers and installers has brought the Open Arms brand to life through a variety of projects, including vehicle wraps and in-building wall graphics. They are a pleasure to work with, consistently delivering on time and with exceptional attention to detail.
- Ethan Armstrong – Open Arms of Minnesota
