With the community's help, the Food Bank of Northern Nevada helps ensure thousands of people in the region receive nutritious food to eat.
The Food Bank of Northern Nevada belongs to the community. Without the generous support of the community, the organization would simply be a beautiful facility staffed by employees filled with good intentions. Those who donate their time, treasure and talents are the ones who fuel this work, ensuring that those who are struggling receive the food and support they need. This has been true throughout the 32 years that the Food Bank has been serving children, seniors, and others in need. It became even more evident during the economic downturn, when record growth in the numbers of people needing help caused the community to respond with amazing generosity.
Today, the Food Bank of Northern Nevada and its partners continue to help an average of 103,000 people every month, nearly half of whom are children and seniors. The Food Bank serves a 90,000 square mile area which spans the entire northern part of Nevada and parts of eight California counties along the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. While there are very exciting indicators of a bright economic future for northern Nevada, many of the most vulnerable of citizens continue to struggle to meet their most basic needs, including food for their families. The issue of hunger touches many other aspects of people’s lives. A child who lacks proper nutrition can struggle in school. A senior may have to make tough decisions, between heating their home, buying medication, or buying food. A person struggling with hunger can have increased health problems, and seniors are more vulnerable than most.
The Food Bank of Northern Nevada helps people like Crystal. Crystal was diagnosed with cancer and lupus. Her illness led to her losing everything she had worked so hard to achieve. She had a good job, a house and could provide for her three sons. Crystal says that the food she receives through the Food Bank helps her not only feed her children but gives her the hope she needs to get back on her feet.
The Food Bank of Northern Nevada addresses these immediate needs with the help of more than 135 partner agencies who help distribute food to the far reaches of the state and to our most vulnerable citizens. Partner agencies include emergency food pantries, shelters, congregate feeding locations, senior centers and more. The Food Bank also distributes food directly through several programs. One of these programs is Mobile Pantry, which distributes fresh produce and other perishable food right into neighborhoods where the people who need it live. Seniors are helped with monthly boxes of food to help supplement their budget. Children receive free meals when they are out of school during the afternoons and in the summertime as well.
Food is just one part of a much larger picture of the needs of a family, which often include housing, health concerns, child care and jobs. The Food Bank realized with the need for emergency food continuing to rise, “shortening the lines” long-term solutions are so necessary. The Bridges to a Thriving Nevada initiative is addressing poverty in the community in a systemic way that truly will lead the path to change in our area. The Food Bank is also thrilled to be part of the collective impact work being done through Truckee Meadows Healthy Communities. Food is only one factor that can affect the life of an under resourced family. Collaborating with organizations that connect to other pieces of this puzzle is vital to creating lasting change. The Food Bank feels privileged to be part of these initiatives because of the very real opportunity to affect change, family by family.
One of the brightest spots in this work is the realization that the tools to solve hunger are here and with the commitment of many, it isn’t just a dream. This is one of the things that drives people to get involved. There are so many ways that individuals and organizations can join in the fight against hunger and each has a direct impact in the lives of people who live right here.
Donate time – Volunteering as a group can be so much fun and is a perfect team building experience. Families volunteer to get children more involved and to teach the importance of giving back. Either way, people will eat because of these efforts. A significant amount of work goes into providing more than 15 million meals to the community and volunteers are truly the heart of the Food Bank.
Donate Money – Each dollar helps the Food Bank provide three meals to those who are hungry in our community. Food is purchased by the truckload and a dollar really stretches at the Food Bank.
Donate Food – Whether it is food from a family garden or non-perishable items from the grocery store, contributions of nutritious food are always appreciated. Companies and organizations help by raising food throughout the year for the clients of the Food Bank.
Have the Food Bank speak at your event. Representatives of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada are thrilled to come and speak to companies and organizations throughout the area about hunger and its solutions.
Workplace giving – Employees of companies, large and small, give monthly donations through their place of business making giant impact in the fight against hunger.
Participate in Events – The Food Bank and its supporters hold events throughout the year to raise food, funds and friends. There are plenty of events to participate in throughout the year by attending, volunteering or even sponsoring, including CANstruction, which is happening this week! Drop by Meadowood Mall from March 2 – 6 and see amazing structures made out of food, built by architects, other businesses and student teams. Attendees can participate in the people’s choice award by voting in person or online where $1 = one vote.
Advocate – Let people know about hunger in this community and what can be done to solve it.
Those who would like to know more about the Food Bank of Northern Nevada can visit fbnn.org or call 775-331-FOOD (3663.) Together we can solve hunger.
