Three Square Food Bank and Nevada HAND announce joint efforts to combat senior hunger and food insecurity in Southern Nevada. With the help of a generous $1 million gift from an anonymous donor to Nevada HAND, the organizations are collaborating to implement initiatives to break down barriers and better understand the facilitators of food security to help meet the needs of the more than 26,000 seniors in the Las Vegas community who struggle with hunger.
“We are beyond grateful for the opportunity to support Nevada HAND with their new feeding programs. We have a longstanding partnership with them, and we have already accomplished many great things together,” Jodi Tyson, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Three Square Food Bank said. “We will enhance our partnership by coupling Three Square’s food sourcing ability with Nevada HAND’s outreach to better reach the vulnerable seniors they serve.”
The first initiative is a food pantry program that will be available at three of Nevada HAND’s independent senior communities (Bonanza Pines, Rochelle Pines, and Stewart Pines). The custom-built pantries will offer residents fresh and nutritious food options provided by Three Square on a regular basis. There will be a Pantry Manager on site to support with healthy meal planning, nutrition assistance, as well as provide other resources for residents.
The second initiative is the expansion of Nevada HAND’s prepared meal and dining room program, Anytime Dining. Residents of Nevada HAND’s independent senior community, Decatur Pines, can now access prepared meals and the dining room at the organization’s assisted living community, Silver Sky at Deer Springs, located just next door. Anytime Dining provides seniors with the opportunity to access nutritious prepared meals, and combat isolation while promoting healthy food and social choices.
“We are thrilled to partner with Three Square on these key initiatives to reduce hunger and food instability, as well as to promote healthy choices for our senior residents,” Mike Mullin, founder and CEO of Nevada HAND, said. “The food pantries and Anytime Dining program create opportunities for our residents to live well by accessing fresh, nutritious food and healthy dining options. Equally important is the opportunity for our residents to engage with one another to create healthy relationships and reduce isolation. We thank Three Square for their partnership and the donor who made these programs possible.”
It is estimated that Nevada will see a 36 percent increase in the older adult population over the next decade. Programs like the new initiatives offered through Nevada HAND and its established resident services team, which provides the organization’s 7,300 residents with a variety of programs, services, and referrals to improve their economic prospects, will make a significant impact for many seniors in the community.
The Anytime Dining program began offering meals to seniors on February 18 at Deer Springs, and the pantry at Bonanza Pines is scheduled for completion in mid-March. There will be a special ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the pantry on Thursday, March 28, at 8:30 a.m.
