Taking On Food Scarcity This Summer: Stocking Food Pantries And Donating Non-Perishable Foods

With school being out for summer, food access for many children and families becomes more complex. Free and reduced school lunches help provide one to two meals a day for in need children, ensuring they eat at least once during every week day. Summer, while it provides a break from instruction, also takes that away, putting more strain on parents facing food insecurity. 

To help those in our community who face these difficulties, we encourage you to consider contributing to a food pantry near you, like Catholic Charities’ Hands of Hope Food Pantry.

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A Summer Food Security Struggle

Over the summers, children especially may face a more limited access to food because they no longer have school meals. With this difficulty often comes malnutrition that can cause a decline in academic performance and skills called the “summer slip”. This slip makes starting school back more challenging as their bodies readjust and they are forced to play catch-up and relearn previously taught information.

Malnutrition in childhood can also have long-term health effects, putting them at a higher risk for severe health issues as they age. With this in mind, donating food or helping with a summer food program is a great way to help the people in your community, especially children.

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Food Donation Near You

Helping your community with food accessibility can be done in many ways, whether you prefer to donate food or volunteer with a food providing service or food pantry. The Catholic Charities food pantry accepts donations and volunteer workers to help guests as they shop. We encourage both fresh and non-perishable food donations for our food pantry, ensuring that those who utilize our service have options and can make a variety of nutritious meals. 

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Tackle Food Scarcity With Catholic Charities

If you’re in search of a food pantry near you, consider donating or volunteering at the Hands of Hope Food Pantry located in Las Vegas, NV. Food items can be dropped off at our organization’s campus gate Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Group donations are also encouraged and may be eligible for pickup so we encourage you to speak to organizations you are a part of to ban together and help us decrease food insecurity in our community.

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Sign up to volunteer and learn more about our donation processes and programs for food scarcity. With your help, we can feed Vegas and more.

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