Leila Navidi

Julie Murray, executive director of Three Square, the Las Vegas Valley’s largest food bank, at one of its warehouses, says she’s surprised by the number of children in the program’s hunger line. Many need food to get through weekends.

By Timothy Pratt

Wed, Aug 13, 2008 (2 a.m.)

As the Las Vegas Valley’s unemployment figures reach heights not seen in 15 years and the valley tops the nation in foreclosure rates, one person with a unique vantage point is Julie Murray, executive director of Three Square, the area’s largest food bank.

The organization operates out of two warehouses on Pecos Road and opened in December, just as signs of the valley’s slide were becoming apparent.

You and others began planning the food bank more than a year before it opened. Was it hard to predict the current situation?

We saw inklings of the economy changing at the end of 2007, but I never thought the challenges would be so high. We began with one 50,000-square-foot warehouse and had to add on another 70,000-square-foot warehouse. We budgeted $300,000 for staples such as peanut butter and canned tuna, and now we’re spending $1.2 million.

What surprises have you seen in the hunger line?

We didn’t expect so many children. The Clark County School District’s free lunch program has about 117,000 children. This school year we will be sending many of them home with food on Fridays so they have enough on the weekends. Lately we’ve seen middle-class people who would have been among our volunteers before slipping into the category of needing food.

Have you had to change anything to meet the rising need?

We’ve had to limit the amount of meat agencies can take with them to 50 pounds per visit. That’s steak, hamburger, chicken. We’ve also had to set up a system of ordering with two days’ advance notice.

Have tough times meant declining donations from the business community?

Donations are still steady from businesses. We have seen a slight decrease in individual gifts, but that is to be expected since so many people are out of work.

Have you figured out how to do better at feeding the hungry?

We’re partnering with UNLV researchers to study the different ZIP codes in the valley, determine what the need is in each area and how it’s being met.

Have you seen any surprises?

One would think that when times are challenging, you would see fewer volunteers, but the reverse is true. We’ve gone from about 100 volunteers earlier this year to 1,000 today. I believe people want to feel like they’re a part of something.