Ruth Brinker facts for kids

Ruth Marie Brinker (May 1, 1922 – August 8, 2011) was an American activist who helped people with AIDS. She started a special group called Project Open Hand. In 1985, she began giving food and meals to people in San Francisco who had AIDS and were too sick to cook or shop for themselves.

Early Life and Inspiration

Ruth Marie Appel was born on May 1, 1922, in Hartford, South Dakota. In the mid-1950s, she moved to San Francisco. She married Jack Brinker in 1957 and they had two daughters, Lisa and Sara. They later divorced in 1965.

A Friend in Need

In the mid-1980s, a serious illness called AIDS was affecting many people in San Francisco. One of Ruth's friends had AIDS and was very weak. He couldn't cook or go grocery shopping. Ruth, who was a grandmother at the time, and some of her friends decided to help. They took turns bringing him meals every day.

A Promise to Help Others

Sadly, some of the volunteers went on vacation. By the time they came back, Ruth's friend had passed away. This made Ruth very sad, and she promised that she would not let this happen to other people in San Francisco.

Founding Project Open Hand

Ruth Brinker had worked with food before and had also volunteered for a group called Meals on Wheels. This group delivers meals to people who can't get food for themselves. Ruth used her experience to start helping more people.

How Project Open Hand Began

She began organizing many volunteers to deliver hot meals to people with AIDS in San Francisco. This idea grew into her own nonprofit group, which means it's a group that helps people instead of trying to make money. She called it Project Open Hand.

Growing to Help More People

Project Open Hand officially started in the summer of 1985. Ruth and seven of her friends began the group with a small amount of money, $2,000, and some donated cookware. Over time, Project Open Hand grew a lot. It now helps not only people with AIDS but also elderly people and others with long-term illnesses.

In 1987 and 1988, Project Open Hand served 300 people with AIDS. By 2011, the group was providing 2,600 meals every day! They used money from public and private donations to do this. Many other groups across the United States have copied Ruth Brinker's idea to help people in their own communities.

Later Life

Ruth Brinker passed away on August 8, 2011, at her home in San Francisco. She was 89 years old. She was remembered by her two daughters, a grandson, and a great-granddaughter.