Open Choice Back in Business

As of Monday, July 15, Mount Carmel Guild resumed  open-choice as part of its food pantry operations, once again allowing individuals and families to select  preferred foods and amenities from pre-stocked shelves. This return empowers care-receivers with greater autonomy over choice and helps create a more wholesome and dignified “shopping” experience.

Between September 2019 and March 2020, the Guild‘s food pantry functioned as an open-choice food facility. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, changes were made in favor of an outdoor service, limiting open-choice to ensure safety and compliance with health guidelines.

With this resumption, care receivers can once again choose items that best suit their needs and preferences, in an inviting and family-like atmosphere, guided by trained “hosts.” This change has been welcomed by care receivers, many of whom have remarked on the ease and efficiency the new concept affords, providing independence and a general sense of satisfaction. 

The Guild has also been making great strides with use of the newly adopted Oasis Insights, client management software to further improve operations.

This advanced system aids in the registration and identification of care-receivers, while streamlining the processing and documentation of food distribution. The integration of Oasis  continues to ensure that the Guild can efficiently manage its services while giving equal attention to the smooth functioning of the open-choice facility, with an added layer of personal care.  

"We are thrilled to bring back the open-choice concept at Mount Carmel Guild," said Richard Ferreira, Director of the Community Support Program. "It aligns with our mission to treat everyone with dignity and respect, and the new software, Oasis Insights continues to allow us to provide an efficient service, while operationalizing open-choice.”

The welcome return of open-choice marks a significant step forward for Mount Carmel Guild, reaffirming its commitment to providing dignified and compassionate support for the community it serves.