Legislation provides Three Square with funds to purchase over 2.8 million meals for Southern Nevadans in need
LAS VEGAS June 20, 2023 – Three Square Food Bank applauds Governor Joe Lombardo’s signing of Senate Bill 341 and Assembly Bill 525. SB 341 was sponsored and championed by Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, and Senators Roberta Lange and Marilyn Dondero Loop. AB 525 was championed by Assembly leadership. Both bills stand to significantly and positively impact our food-insecure Southern Nevada community.
These bills will provide critical financial support to thousands of Southern Nevadans who have recently sustained major reductions to their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits with the conclusion of SNAP Emergency Allotments (EAs) earlier this year. The loss of SNAP EAs resulted in many seniors experiencing a more than 90 percent drop in benefits, and a collective $40 million monthly loss in purchasing power for Nevada. These bills provide Three Square and the Food Bank of Northern Nevada $4 million each during the next two years to purchase more food for those that will turn to the food banks during this time of increased need.
“Three Square applauds the Nevada legislature and Governor Lombardo for their commitment to hunger relief throughout our state. Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, Senators Roberta Lange and Marilyn Dondero Loop, and Assembly leadership were champions for this critical support that will help us continue to serve our hungry Southern Nevada neighbors during this period of rising need,” said Three Square President and CEO Beth Martino.
“In recent months, Three Square has seen a more than 25 percent increase in demand for assistance from the community. Our mission at Three Square is to provide wholesome food to hungry people, and this type of support is essential. Our jobs are made easier due to this critical support from the legislature. We are hopeful this legislation will allow us to fill the gap that has been created. As Southern Nevada’s only food bank, it is not lost on us the essential role that Three Square plays in this community,” Martino concluded.
Three Square encourages neighbors experiencing need to contact the Three Square Center at (702) 765-4030 to apply for benefits, to be connected to additional resources, or to be directed to a food distribution site. To learn more and to get involved in the fight against hunger, visit threesquare.org.
About Three Square Food Bank
A national model project inspired by Founder Eric Hilton with a grant provided by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Three Square is Southern Nevada’s only food bank and largest hunger relief organization, serving Las Vegas and all of Clark, Lincoln, Esmeralda and Nye counties. Since opening in 2007, Three Square has provided more than 550 million pounds of food to hundreds of thousands of people in need and earned a reputation as one of the most efficient and effective food banks in the country. 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 working together to support food-insecure Southern Nevadans. Last year, Three Square provided nearly 43 million pounds of food, the equivalent of nearly 36 million meals, through its network of community partners. A member of the Feeding America network of food banks, Three Square remains committed to its mission of providing wholesome food to hungry people, while passionately pursuing a hunger-free community. If you or someone you know needs food assistance, or wants to learn more about Three Square’s vision of a community where no one is hungry, please connect at threesquare.org, Facebook (@ThreeSquareFoodBank), Instagram (@threesquarelv) and Twitter (@threesquarelv).
MEDIA CONTACTS:
The Firm Public Relations & Marketing, 702.739.9933
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Three Square Food Bank, 702.644.3663
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