(LAS VEGAS, Nev.) -
November 20, 2018The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) and Three Square Food Bank of Las Vegas teamed up last month to provide more than 12,000 pounds of fresh, Nevada-grown produce to 545 low-income seniors in Las Vegas.
Nevada received $151,000 from the US Department of Agriculture this year to implement the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), which provides coupons to food-insecure seniors throughout the state. The program improves access to fresh, local produce while reimbursing participating farmers who accepted the coupons at farmers markets throughout the state.
“At the end of the summer, we had $16,200 in leftover funds for a bulk purchase of produce from Nevada farmers,” Devin Wilcox-McCombs, social services specialist for the NDA’s Food and Nutrition division, said. “With that money, we were able to purchase an additional 12,150 pounds of produce and 540 pounds of honey from seven farmers throughout Nevada.”
The produce included potatoes, tomatoes, apples, pears, winter squash, yams, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, sugar pie pumpkins and garlic. The NDA partnered with Three Square of Las Vegas to distribute the items through their Senior Share program.
“Seniors are one of the most vulnerable populations impacted by food insecurity in southern Nevada,” Jodi Tyson, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Three Square Food Bank, said. “Barriers such as chronic health problems, mobility issues and fixed incomes often prevent seniors from accessing the nutritious food they so desperately need, and we are grateful for partners like the NDA who understand the importance of effectively utilizing resources to help alleviate the stress of senior hunger.”
Three Square’s Seniors Share program provides healthy supplemental groceries like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins to food-insecure seniors living with chronic conditions. This effort is improving the quality of life of one of the community’s most vulnerable populations.
About the Nevada Department of Agriculture
The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) promotes a business climate that is fair, economically viable and encourages a sustainable environment that serves to protect food, fiber and human health and safety through effective service and education. The NDA includes divisions of Administration, Animal Industry, Consumer Equitability, Food and Nutrition and Plant Industry.
About Three Square Food Bank
This year marks Three Square’s 10th anniversary serving as Southern Nevada’s only food bank and largest hunger relief organization. The nonprofit offers wholesome, nutritious food to nonprofit and faith-based organizations, schools and feeding sites that serve a wide range of Southern Nevadans. A national model project inspired by Founder Eric Hilton with a grant provided by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Three Square is a community collaborative partnership with businesses, nonprofit agencies, food distributors, higher education institutions, the Clark County School District, governmental entities, the media and thousands of volunteers to efficiently and effectively work together to serve those in our community struggling with hunger. Three Square currently provides more than 37 million meals – the equivalent of more than 45 million pounds of food and grocery product – per year through a network of more than 1,600 community partners. Three Square is a member of the Feeding America network of food banks. For additional information visit threesquare.org. For the latest news and events on Three Square, visit Facebook and follow them on Instagram and Twitter (@threesquarelv).