Latest news with #ThreeSquare
CBS News
2 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Why many Nevadans are contending with worsening food insecurity: "They have no choice at all"
Las Vegas — Army veteran Earvin James Sr. never pictured himself in a Las Vegas food pantry. But with a fixed income and rising grocery prices, he had no choice. "Because you go to these stores now, a pack of toilet tissue costs you $8, and it used to be $5 for a 12-pack," James told CBS News. "Everything is going up in this country except helping out the senior citizens." Most of the food at the Helping Hands of Vegas Valley food pantry comes from the Three Square food bank, a nonprofit that supplies nearly every major food pantry in Southern Nevada. "We're already hearing from our partners that they're feeling the strain of rising demand, more people coming in the door needing help," said Beth Martino, president and CEO of Three Square. President Trump's recently passed tax and spending plan, the "big, beautiful bill," significantly changes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps. States will pick up much more of the SNAP costs, and there are new, stricter requirements for recipients. "In a state like Nevada, we have very few options to raise more revenue to meet the financial demands of a program like SNAP and Medicaid," Martino said. "So the future for a lot of those people is very uncertain." The warehouse at Three Square felt the pinch in June when it had to contend with smaller food pallets. "We were facing a real crisis with not having enough food on our shelves to meet the need," Martino said. According to an analysis in May from Three Square, about one in seven residents in Southern Nevada is food insecure, meaning they do not know where their next meal is coming from. This year, child hunger rose to 22% in the region that Three Square serves, up from 18% in 2024, according to nonprofit's data. "It was very difficult to ask for assistance," said Clara Blackwell, a volunteer at Helping Hands. Blackwell knows the courage it takes to walk into the pantry and ask for help. Her husband, son and granddaughter all died within weeks of each other. On a fixed income, she now volunteers here to help others find what kept her afloat. "Lately, I've seen a lot of people coming here," Blackwell said. "They have no choice. They have no choice at all. I said, 'Well, you know what? Come reach out and see what you can get.'"
Business Wire
11-08-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Check City Raises Over $52,000 in 2025 Food Drive for Three Square Food Bank
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Check City proudly announces the success of its 2025 Check City Checks Hunger campaign, a long-standing partnership with the Three Square Food Bank to support Nevada families. Throughout June 2025, Check City employees and customers raised $37,180 in donations. With Check City's corporate match, the final donation totaled $52,180 to provide critical support for Nevada families fighting hunger during the summer months. Check City believes in giving back and partners with Three Square each summer for its annual Check City Checks Hunger campaign. Through food donation drives and matched corporate donations, the campaign helps provide nutritious food and local support to families in need across Nevada. Three Square expressed its appreciation in a letter to Check City: 'For the past 11 years, your partnership has had a tremendous impact in the fight against hunger. Because of your dedication, countless individuals and families in our community have had access to the nutritious food they need. We are incredibly grateful for your ongoing support and the meaningful difference you continue to make year after year.' — Three Square Check City expressed its gratitude for the opportunity to partner with the Three Square Food Bank and contribute to this cause. The company looks forward to continuing this partnership and acknowledges the collaboration that made the campaign such a success. 'We're all inspired by the great and incredibly important work Three Square does day in and day out for our community. We look forward to continuing this partnership and recognize the collective effort.' — Check City With over 30 years of serving customers' financial needs, Check City is dedicated to uplifting communities year-round. The Check City Checks Hunger campaign is one example that extends this mission beyond financial solutions. To learn more about Check City's community partnerships, visit their Community Page. About Check City Founded in 1986, Check City is a nationwide financial services provider offering loans, check cashing, money transfers, and more. The company is known for exceptional service and community engagement, striving to provide fast, low-cost solutions while giving back to the neighborhoods it calls home. About Three Square Food Bank Serving Southern Nevada since 2007, Three Square is the area's largest food bank, providing food to individuals and families in need through a network of community partners and programs aimed at ending hunger.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Three Square Food Bank offers meals over summer to Las Vegas valley students
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Three Square Food Bank is helping feed thousands of kids across the Las Vegas valley this summer with their 'Meet Up and Eat Up' program. With schools on break, many students in Clark County who rely on free school meals are left without a daily source of nutrition. To help bridge that gap, Three Square Food Bank is launching its 'Meet Up and Eat Up' program, offering free, nutritious meals to children throughout the summer. Starting Tuesday, May 27 through August 8, kids 18 and under can enjoy meals at convenient locations across the valley, including parks, libraries, rec centers, day camps, apartment complexes, and Boys & Girls Clubs. To reach even more families, refrigerated vans also deliver meals directly to selected apartment communities. Tara Nerida, Director of Programs and Research at Three Square, shared that the team prepares around 20,000 meals each week during the summer. Kids can enjoy a rotating menu featuring 20 different meal options, with some sites offering breakfast, lunch, or both. Everything is completely free—no sign-up or ID needed. For those looking to help, Nerida shared that every $1 donated to Three Square helps create 3 meals. Volunteers are also needed to help pack food boxes, deliver meals, and support distribution efforts across Southern Nevada. To find a meal site or learn how to help, click here or call 702-765-4030. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State's food banks pan $5 million legislative proposal to tell people where food is
() The state's food banks are wary of legislation that seeks to allocate $5 million for a program proponents say is designed to reduce food insecurity and waste. 'Until there is more data to demonstrate that this concept will increase access to food for our most vulnerable neighbors, we are concerned that this approach could disrupt an established, high-performing food rescue system,' Beth Martino, the CEO of Three Square wrote in a March 27 letter opposing the proposal. Assembly Bill 476, which is scheduled to be heard by the Assembly Ways and Means Committee Saturday morning, would require the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services to create a 'Smart Surplus Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.' The program would seek to reduce food waste via technology by directing SNAP recipients to areas with a surplus of food where they can also get discounted rates. The legislation would allocate $5 million to administer the program. Between potential for major federal cuts and the state's shaky economic outlook, the fate of many bills that require new or additional spending remains uncertain. A Connecticut company founded by Priceline, r4 Technologies, has been used to develop the program elsewhere. The legislation 'proposes allocation for the development of AI to help grocers better assess needs,' said Jason Frierson, a former Speaker of the Nevada State Assembly and Nevada U.S. Attorney who is now a lobbyist with Cornerstone Government Affairs, which represents r4 Technologies. 'It allows the grocers to sell more food and helps to decrease waste so there is less food going to places that aren't being purchased. It also helps SNAP recipients get a better bang for their buck,' Frierson said. The company's program was launched for the first time last year in Delaware, funded by $1.5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Three Square Food Bank, which provides assistance in Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln, and Nye counties, as well as the Food Bank of Northern Nevada opposed the legislation. Shane Piccinini, the government relations director for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, wrote in his opposition testimony in March that he didn't understand how the legislation would improve access. 'Many Nevadans facing food insecurity, particularly seniors, struggle to reach grocery stores—even when food is offered at discounted prices,' he wrote. 'Our research shows that transportation is a major obstacle to accessing food, which is why many of our neighbors rely on local food pantries or direct delivery services provided by nonprofit organizations like the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.' AB 476 was first heard by the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee in March and hasn't received a vote yet. It is exempt from all deadlines. Since that March hearing, U.S. House Republicans passed a massive budget reconciliation bill that is now headed for the U.S. Senate — Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' — that slashes Medicaid, food assistance and other programs. Also since the bill's hearing in March, the body charged with making state revenue estimates that legislative budgeting can't exceed revised those estimates downward, citing projected negative impacts on Nevada's economy largely as a result of Trump's trade war. Democratic Assemblymember Tracy Brown May in the March hearing raised concern that deep cuts to federal assistance programs – only proposed at the time – would limit the availability of the service described in the bill. The legislation is sponsored by the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. Democratic Assemblymember Daniele Monroe-Moreno, who chairs the committee, said those currently eligible for SNAP benefits would be eligible to use the r4 Technologies application, but acknowledged that could change with shifts in federal policy. 'I wish I had a crystal ball and could say that any changes would not impact this program,' said Monroe-Moreno, who also chairs the Nevada State Democratic Party. 'I can't sit here and say that at this moment.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
CareSource and Three Square Food Bank unite to tackle hunger in Southern Nevada
Three Square honored with Heart of Community Award and monetary donation Three Square Community Kitchen CareSource employees volunteer at Three Square LAS VEGAS, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, CareSource Nevada, a nonprofit managed care organization recently selected to implement Nevada's Medicaid Managed Care Program, awarded Three Square Food Bank a $10,000 donation and a Heart of the Community Award. The award, recognizing exceptional commitment to improving health and well-being in communities, was presented during a volunteer event at Three Square's headquarters, where more than 100 CareSource team members packed hundreds of meals and grocery product for the one in six Southern Nevadans facing hunger. CareSource's volunteer efforts and financial support reflect a shared commitment to addressing food insecurity and enhancing the well-being of underserved Nevadans through the consideration of social determinants of health. 'With prices going up and more people struggling to make ends meet, the need for food assistance in our community keeps growing,' said Beth Martino, president and CEO of Three Square. 'Thanks to partners like CareSource, we can keep helping more people and stay focused on our mission to make sure everyone has dignified access to the food they need. Together, we're making a real difference.' Food insecurity remains a significant challenge across Southern Nevada, with 16% of Clark County residents experiencing limited access to nutritious food. In the rural counties of Esmeralda, Lincoln, and Nye, also served by Three Square, rates range from 13.6% to 21.94%. To fully meet the need, an estimated 57.8 million additional meals are required annually to close the gap left by federal nutrition programs and charitable resources. 'At CareSource, we believe health care goes beyond doctor visits; it's about building a healthier foundation for life,' said Jayme Puu, chief executive officer, CareSource Nevada. 'The donation and volunteering we provided to Three Square today are just the beginning of our long-term investment in Nevada's families.' ### CareSource Nevada CareSource Nevada Co. (CareSource Nevada) is a nonprofit managed care organization that seeks to provide access to high-quality care to Nevada Medicaid and Nevada Check-Up-eligible residents of the Silver State. Supported by CareSource's national managed health plan experience, CareSource Nevada transforms health care for Nevadans throughout the state through innovative programs that address the social determinants of health, prevention and access to care. Through its provider network and partnerships with community-based organizations in every region of Nevada, CareSource Nevada delivers care with heart. Learn more at About Three Square Food BankFounded in 2007 with a grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and inspired by founder Eric Hilton, Three Square is Southern Nevada's only food bank and the 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 644 million pounds of food to hundreds of thousands of people in need, earning a reputation as one of the most efficient and effective food banks in the nation. Three Square is a community-wide collaboration, partnering with businesses, nonprofit organizations, food distributors, higher education institutions, the Clark County School District, government agencies, the media, and thousands of volunteers to support food-insecure Southern Nevadans. Last year alone, Three Square provided more than 49 million pounds of food— the equivalent of over 41 million meals— through its network of 150 community partners. As a proud member of the Feeding America network, Three Square remains committed to providing wholesome food to those in need while passionately pursuing a hunger-free community. 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 Facebook (@ThreeSquareFoodBank), Instagram (@threesquarelv) and X (@threesquarelv). Attachments Three Square Community Kitchen CareSource employees volunteer at Three Square CONTACT: Hannah Krafka CareSource 937-751-4862 Joe Ham Three Square 702.644.3663 x 333 jham@ in to access your portfolio
