Latest news with #ThreeSquare
Yahoo
6 days ago
- 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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
