Feeding the Valley: How a Food Pantry is Uplifting Las Vegas Families in Need

In the face of soaring utility bills and grocery prices, many families in the Las Vegas valley are finding themselves in a difficult position, forced to choose between paying for power or putting food on the table. However, one organization is stepping up to provide a lifeline to those struggling – the Jewish Family Services Agency (JFSA) Food Pantry.

A Vital Lifeline for Las Vegas Families

Tackling Homelessness and Hunger

The JFSA Food Pantry has been a game-changer for individuals like Timothy James O'Brien, an Army veteran who once found himself without a place to call home. "Well, I just actually had nowhere to go," he shared, recounting the hard times he had faced. But the food pantry provided him with the support he needed to get back on his feet. "It got me on my feet and it gives me a lift up," O'Brien expressed gratefully.The food pantry's impact extends far beyond just O'Brien, as Renea Parr, JFSA's Emergency Services Director, explains. "If what we can do is offer you a little bit of food so that you can save those dollars to pay other, more important bills, such as our power bills, we know how important that is this time of year. That's what we want to do." With the cost of living soaring, the food pantry has become a lifeline for many in the community.

Addressing the Rising Cost of Living

The high cost of groceries and utilities has put a significant strain on families in the Las Vegas valley. "Things are so expensive and the price of food has skyrocketed in the last few years and we're all feeling that," Parr acknowledged. "The clients that need our food is really people like you and me. It's really everyone in our community."The JFSA Food Pantry is working tirelessly to meet the growing demand, with 2,000 people visiting the pantry each month. The organization has forged partnerships with local food banks and grocery stores, ensuring a steady supply of nutritious and high-quality food that would otherwise go to waste. "This is food that grocery stores would otherwise throw away," Parr explained. "That's perfectly good food and we bring it here and give it out the same day."

Providing a Lifeline to the Community

For individuals like O'Brien, the food pantry has been a true lifeline, providing them with the essentials they need to weather the storm. "Canned food. Ice cream. It's the milk bread," O'Brien shared, expressing his gratitude for the variety of items he is able to access.The JFSA Food Pantry has made it easy for anyone in need to receive assistance, with a simple process of calling or visiting their website. "If you are in need of food, all you need to do is call us," Parr said. "You can go to our website. You can call our phone lines here. Anyone who comes here and says they need food, we will give you food."The organization's commitment to serving the community extends beyond the walls of the food pantry, with pop-up markets set up across the Las Vegas valley, from schools to apartment complexes. "They tell me they'll go anywhere that they are invited," O'Brien said, underscoring the pantry's dedication to reaching those in need.As the cost of living continues to rise, the JFSA Food Pantry stands as a beacon of hope for families in the Las Vegas valley, providing a vital lifeline and the support they need to weather the storm.