The War Against Hunger

by | Jun 10, 2024 | Blog | 0 comments

Hunger can be defined and measured in different ways. It can mean that an individual is not able to acquire enough food to meet the daily minimum dietary energy requirements. Hunger can also mean food insecurity, when people are uncertain whether they will be able to acquire enough food for healthy, active lives. Hunger can also mean the physical feeling of needing food.

In Nevada, about 1 in 8 individuals are food insecure and about 1 in 5 children are uncertain whether they will have enough food. Nutrition for children from 0-8 is critical for brain development. A third grader who has experienced undernourishment will be set up for a very difficult life compared to his or her peers who have had enough to eat. Early education programs have been shown to increase childhood development in part because of the nutrition that is provided for breakfast and lunch. Nevada also has the fourth highest rate of food insecurity among seniors in the U.S., tied with Texas. Nevada has the second highest rates of very low food security among seniors in the nation, meaning they report skipping meals to cut costs. Due to increases in food and rent costs, many of the folks that show up at LSSN must decide whether to purchase food, pay the rent, buy medicine, or fix their car.

7 Ways We Fight Food Insecurity at LSSN

We have Mobile Markets that serve about 200-300 households in a single day. We are starting two new locations to be held at Christ the Servant Lutheran on June 1 and Good Samaritan at the Lakes on June 8th.

We have been using our refrigerated truck to pick up fresh food twice a week from Albertson’s through Three Square’s Food Rescue Program.

We work together with the Department of Juvenile Justice to distribute food parcels to at-risk teenagers to three locations. Jesus Martinez, our Director of Programs, shared one story of a boy who got into trouble to begin with for stealing formula for a younger sibling.

We often serve 100 families per day at our pantry on Boulder Highway. We have two other pantry sites including Holy Spirit Lutheran Church and Anthem Wellness Center.

We serve low-income seniors a hot nutritious meal every weekday at two locations as well as giving them go bags for sustenance over the weekend.

Our SNAP Educators are conducting nutrition classes and cooking demonstrations all over Las Vegas as well as in Searchlight, NV.  Pictured above with our CEO.

We have 11 church partners who collect food donations for us regularly. Last Sunday New Song Lutheran had a “One Can Sunday” in which congregants were encouraged to bring a single can of food. Community Lutheran had a “Souper Bowl” event in February and bakes fresh bread and delivers it to us every week. Every year we have an epic competition to fight food insecurity called The Peanut Butter Wars. Spread the word on this one!