LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Three Square is the only food bank in Southern Nevada. Officials say food insecurity has increased dramatically since the start of the COVID pandemic, from 280,000 people in need of food to 364,000 now.
Three Square Food Bank has a saying: “Together we feed everyone,” said Three Square Food Bank Director of Advocacy Research, Regis Whaley.
“An increase of almost 40 percent, 131,000 children are currently experiencing food insecurity,” Whaley said.
He says the food bank’s food costs have increased, including gas to transport food.
“A lot of support that was available from the federal government has disappeared in relation to some of the food we were receiving, as well as some of the financial benefits that families were receiving through various benefit programs. So what that means for Three Square is that a lot of the food that we’re getting now is food that we have to buy rather than getting through donations or federal food programs,” Whaley said.
He said, “we are still able to buy all the food we need. But it is certainly coming at a higher cost now than at any time in the past.”
Whaley says the food bank is able to do everything it does because of the support of the community. He cited financial donors, volunteers and others who helped out of state, including other food banks.
With inflation showing no major signs of letting up and staying with COVID, Whaley says people shouldn’t be ashamed to ask for help.
“It’s okay. There’s a lot of people in this boat right now. A lot of people are going through this for the first time. We’re here to help. That’s what we have to do in the community, he said.
People are being urged to go to the Three Square website to find food distribution sites. People will see the multitude of food locations and their hours of operation. People can also call the Three Square Center if they need help finding food or if they are over 60 and need groceries delivered at 702-765-4030. The website also has information about donating money and volunteering.
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