The day after a record-breaking federal government shutdown ended on November 12, Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo called a special session of the Nevada Legislature. He and the Democratic majority acted quickly to address concerns over the shutdown’s impact on nearly 500,000 Nevadans enrolled in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides grocery assistance for qualifying low-income households. Due to the shutdown, the program lapsed on November 1.
One of Lombardo’s objectives is “to address a projected shortfall” that resulted after Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” increased each state’s share of costs of administering the SNAP program from 50% to 75%. This includes paying employee salaries and purchasing software to manage caseloads.
Meanwhile, Nevada Senate Democrats introduced their own backup plan in Senate Bill 3, or the Silver State General Assistance Program.
“Senate Bill 3 ensures that Nevada has a clear, accountable and immediate mechanism to protect families when federal support falters,” Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro said in a November 13 hearing. “In other words, when Washington, D.C. cannot deliver, Nevada must be ready to step in.”
As introduced on the first day of the session, the bill would “provide temporary financial or in-kind assistance to eligible persons and households who are experiencing an extraordinary circumstance,” which includes “disruption in the provision of, suspension of or any related reduction in benefits provided under a program of public assistance.”
If needed, these funds would be disbursed through a new account in the State General Fund, and because they could come in the form of “cash, electronic benefits or vouchers,” they wouldn’t qualify as direct SNAP payments. As of press time, the Nevada Senate and Assembly had passed the bill and sent it to the governor for his signature.
While it’s still unclear if Nevada policymakers can successfully address lingering issues with SNAP in the special session, payments resumed shortly after the federal government reopened. Still, many families had to divert money meant for other necessities, like rent, utilities or health care, to buy their groceries this month. And they will have to continue to play catch up to offset the benefits they lost at the beginning of the month.
Several local nonprofits and organizations have met the moment by ramping up their capacity to help keep food on the table. Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Weekly compiled a roundup of some of these services, along with some information on how to volunteer or donate.
Three Square Food Bank 4190 N. Pecos Road, threesquare.org
In late October, Three Square began organizing dozens of new emergency food distribution efforts that popped up throughout the Valley to bridge the gap left by delayed SNAP payments. The food bank, which is Southern Nevada’s largest, also opened its Agency Market as a temporary emergency community donation site and increased the amount of food it sends to its partners.
Three Square’s website has an updated list of local distribution programs and events, as well as an interactive Food Finder mapping system at foodfinder.threesquare.org.
Food donations are accepted from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every Monday through Friday at the Agency Market (4190 N. Pecos Road). Monetary donations and registration for volunteering can also be done on Three Square’s website.
Project 150 3600 N. Rancho Drive, project150.org
Best known for connecting homeless, displaced and disadvantaged Valley high schoolers with scholarship opportunities, Project 150 also offers free meals and other supplemental assistance.
Project 150 is working with dozens of participating local schools to distribute at least 5,000 full Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to qualifying students and their families. Donate to the Feed It Forward Holiday Program at Project 150’s website or by texting HOLIDAY25 to 76278. A gift of $25 provides a student and their family with a full holiday meal.
Students who still need additional support can present a valid school ID and pick up non-perishable meal bags at Project 150’s two Betty’s Boutique locations—at 3600 N. Rancho Drive and 2605 E. Flamingo Road—from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. every weekday, excluding holidays.
Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada 1501 Las Vegas Blvd. North, catholiccharities.com
Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada
Catholic Charities’ Hands of Hope Community Food Pantry has served around 150 households daily so far this month, and media director Leslie Carmine expects that number to double around Thanksgiving. It provides fresh produce, baked goods and essential food items for registered clients once a month. Interested clients must present a valid government-issued ID and a document verifying their current residence that’s dated within 30 days of their visit. More information is available on Catholic Charities’ website.
The nonprofit is also distributing 3,500 frozen turkeys and other sides at the pantry through Thanksgiving.
Catholic Charities is also accepting donations of frozen turkeys and other food at their headquarters (1501 Las Vegas Blvd. North) between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Volunteer opportunities are available at Catholic Charities’ website.
The Just One Project1401 N. Decatur Blvd. #34, thejustoneproject.org
The Just One Project
The Just One Project, which served more than five million pounds of groceries to over 300,000 Southern Nevada clients last year, opened a pair of emergency distribution centers on November 3. Since then, they’ve collectively served around 1,000 families daily.
Regarding emergency food distribution, the organization has a drive-thru at its headquarters (1401 N. Decatur Blvd. #34) Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The second emergency distribution location at the Dolores Huerta Resource Center (1737 Hunkins Drive in North Las Vegas) is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. It is not a drive-thru.
The Just One Project’s No-Cost Community Market offers monthly appointments where households can access fresh produce, pantry staples and other household essentials at its headquarters and select locations like the CCSD Family Support Center (1720 S. Maryland Parkway #214).
And its Pop Up and Give Mobile Market targets food deserts, areas with limited or no access to affordable grocery options, through monthly handouts at 10 CCSD locations and 55 senior housing communities in Southern Nevada. Follow @thejustoneprojectlv on social media or visit the website for the pop-up schedule.
Salvation Army of Southern Nevada 2900 Palomino Lane, salvationarmysouthernnevada.org
Salvation Army of Southern Nevada
The Salvation Army announced on November 11 that it was allocating $200k in emergency food resources for families in need across Southern Nevada and other states. Locally, the Salvation Army of Southern Nevada held a series of food drives on November 1 to collect items for its annual Thanksgiving meal box handout on November 20. It’s still accepting monetary donations on its website.
Additionally, it has a food pantry that operates Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Trinity United Methodist Church 6151 W. Charleston Blvd., tumclv.com
Trinity United Methodist Church’s food pantry runs Mondays, 10 a.m. to noon in the church parking lot. Clients can return once a month.
The church also distributes perishable food items each Thursday starting at 11 a.m. until all supplies are given out.
“Blessing bags” include a full day’s worth of food and are available at the Trinity United Methodist Church front office from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Monday through Thursday.
Hope for the City 241 N. Stephanie St., hopeforthecity.org
Hope for the City
Founded in March 2020 as a response to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hope for the City has since distributed 30 million meals to needy families, children and seniors throughout Southern Nevada.
Food pantries are available three days a week from 7 a.m. until supply is exhausted at the following locations:
• Wednesdays at Central Church in Henderson (1001 New Beginnings Drive) and Central Church at Sunrise Mountain (1460 Tree Line Drive)
• Thursdaysat Boy Scouts of America Las Vegas (7220 Paradise Road)
• Saturdaysat Central Church in Henderson
Hope for the City also delivers meals for homebound seniors and others who can’t get to a pantry in person. More information and applications are available on Hope for the City’s website.
Local businesses have launched their own initiatives to help neighbors in need
Echo Taste & Sound
(1301 S. Main St. #160) is offering $5 to-go quarts of chicken and rice soup on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 2 to 8 p.m. or until it sells out. For orders of ten or more, one should email [email protected].
Milpa Mexican Cafe
(4226 S. Durango Dr. #101) began donating portions of each sale to local food banks on November 4. Within the first week, it had donated $500 and food goods to the Just One Project, which matched that donation with another $500.
Yukon Pizza
(1130 E. Charleston Blvd. #160) started offering $1 cheese pizza slices to anyone with a SNAP card at the beginning of November. It also announced it’ll be setting up a “Slice It Forward” program to continue helping those in need in the future. –Tyler Schneider
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