Three Square Food Bank to Continue Fight Against Food Insecurity During Hunger Action Month
With the grand opening of its new East Campus facility, the launch of a virtual fundraiser and volunteer opportunities at its food distribution sites, Three Square Food Bank continues to raise awareness of Southern Nevada’s record-high levels of food insecurity during Hunger Action Month this September.
The 2020 Feeding America Map the Meal Gap study revealed a significant increase in food insecurity across Southern Nevada. In the wake of COVID-19, 447,820 Southern Nevadans are struggling with hunger, including 171,510 children.
“Hunger Action Month is a time when people all over the country stand together with Feeding America and its nationwide network of food banks to raise awareness about the hunger crisis facing our communities,” said Brian Burton, president and CEO of Three Square. “Traditionally we would encourage the community to support our ‘Fill the Plate’ food and fund drive during this time of year. Finding ourselves in a new reality as our community faces the health and economic fallout of COVID-19, we need your help now more than ever to help our neighbors in need.”
Three Square’s new East Campus facility is scheduled to officially open on Hunger Action Day, Sept. 10. The 31,000-square-foot facility will allow Three Square to bolster services with an expanded call center, capacity to serve additional seniors and more. Construction of the facility is supported by key donors as well as federal funding from the New Markets Tax Credit Program (NMTC) and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Additional details will be released soon.
In addition, Southern Nevada residents can support Three Square during Hunger Action Month with the following:
Virtual Fundraiser
Throughout the month of September, those in a position to donate can contribute to Three Square’s Hunger Action Month virtual fundraiser – all proceeds benefit the nonprofit’s efforts to combat food insecurity. Unique donation options will be available, such as “take home meals for kids” or “health conscious foods for seniors,” with an equivalent dollar amount given. For every one dollar donated, Three Square can provide three wholesome meals. The Hunger Action Month virtual fundraising site, www.threesquare.org/ham, launches Sept. 1.
Volunteer Opportunities at Food Distribution Sites
Three Square continues to distribute food to residents in need at sites across the valley and is looking for helping hands. Community members interesting in volunteering are encouraged to call 702-644-3663 or visit www.threesquare.org/how-to-help/volunteer for more information.
During September and throughout the year, local businesses, faith-based organizations and other groups give back by partnering with Three Square to host events and offer unique promotions that benefit the nonprofit. A full list of events happening during Hunger Action Month and beyond is available at www.threesquare.org/how-to-help/events.
Stay tuned in to Three Square’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages throughout September for the latest news and events and the debut of “5 Questions with Chef,” a video series on the issue of hunger featuring the valley’s most esteemed chefs and F&B professionals.
About Three Square Food Bank
Three Square is Southern Nevada’s only food bank and largest hunger relief organization, serving Las Vegas and all of Clark, Lincoln, Esmeralda and Nye counties. Since opening in 2007, Three Square has provided more than 385 million pounds of food to hundreds of thousands of people in need and earned a reputation as one of the most efficient and effective food banks in the country. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Three Square immediately implemented a disaster response plan to answer sudden school and business closures, drastic declines in retail food donations, social distancing limitations on volunteer efforts, reduced on-site staff support, and the need for low-contact food distributions. Within days, Three Square had increased food distribution by 250,000 meals a week and increased the capacity of its Call Center to refer Southern Nevadans to available food resources, social services, and unemployment benefits. While Three Square’s COVID-19 relief efforts have superseded regular programs and operations for the foreseeable future, it is more committed than ever to its mission of providing wholesome food to hungry people, while passionately pursuing a hunger-free community. Three Square is a member of the Feeding America network of food banks. If you or someone you know needs food assistance, or wants to learn more about Three Square’s vision of a community where no one is hungry, please connect at threesquare.org, Facebook (@ThreeSquareFoodBank), Instagram (threesquarelv) and Twitter (@threesquarelv).