Salvation Army feeds 1200 with help from a national organization
-
Local families in need received food and hygiene items on Wednesday. Video by ktnv.com
video
Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) - 12 hundred needy families will have full bellies tonight. The Salvation Army partnered with Feed The Children and distributed boxes of food and hygiene items.
The local statistics are scary.
"The numbers that came out a while ago say, one in every five children in Clark County is impoverished," said Mark Opgrande, from Feed the Children. "And there is enough impoverished children in the State of Nevada to fill the Thomas and Mack Center seven times."
Those numbers have been growing over the last four years. Ever since the economy changed the face of the needy here in Las Vegas.
"A lot of these families that were contacting us and contacting the agencies we work with were basically middle class a few years ago," said Opgrande, explaining how the people that used to donated now need donations.
The Salvation Army and Feed The Children are trying to put a dent in the hunger if only for just a week.
"Every little thing helps. And we're very fortunate to have this program going on," said Judy Gattoni, who picked up food.
People were driving up or walking up all day to the giveaway location in North Las Vegas. What they get is, a book of non perishable food items, hygiene products and a box donated from Avon. :
"Hopefully some of these items will be great for us," said Eyanna Lynum-Brumfield.
She says her family's been struggling for months, ever since her husband was laid off. They even lost their four bedroom house. But she remains optimistic.
"We've stuck together, it's been rough," she said. But you have to communicate and stay together. When you lose your finances, you lose everything, including your family and your spouse. But from the grace of God we've been able to hang out and stay together," said Lynum-Brumfield.
Feed The Children is an organization that was founded in 2009. They tour the country by truck, feeding thousands of families through donations they receive.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.