Despite Raley's gift, homeless food in short supply

Last month when Raley's took over the Albertson's grocery stores and donated $2 million worth of food and other stock items to local charities, some thought the shortages for the poor in the Las Vegas Valley were resolved at least through the end of the year.

Not so, local food banks learned, as the publicity generated by the generous act prompted the homeless and otherwise poor to descend on the agencies in record numbers to get their share.

"We still have paper products and toiletries from two stores, but the food products were gone within 10 days," Salvation Army of Clark County spokesman Sumner Dodge said.

"There was just a tremendous number of people who showed up. We checked them out and they were legitimately in need. Our policy is to give what we have to respond to the need. Sometimes it goes out as fast as it comes in."

Both Salvation Army and Catholic Charities officials said their organizations are grateful for Raley's generous gift -- as well as its continuing assistance through current food drives -- but they want the public to know that during this season of giving, they are still very much in need.

Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada spokeswoman Sharon Mann said that while her organization still has supplies of pasta, rice and other dry goods left from the Raley's donation -- as well as some toiletries and paper products -- the canned goods also went quickly from its pantry.

"This underscores how we are continually in need to serve the area's needy," she said.

Dodge admitted that his organization gives a little more food when its supplies are high, but he added: "When you fill 4,000 food boxes a month it goes pretty fast."

Both spokespersons said that so far there does not appear to be a reduction in the usual holiday gifts from the public in the wake of Raley's huge donation. In fact, for some organizations the effect has been the opposite.

"The Raley's food donation has only helped Catholic Charities and heightened the awareness of our needs to help homeless and individuals in crisis," Frank Richo, director of residential services at St. Vincent Plaza, said.

"Because we were designated as the central point of food delivery, we were able to help other agencies as well."

Mann said the number of people and businesses offering to collect food for Catholic Charities in the wake of Raley's gift has been impressive.

Catholic Charities feeds more than 500,000 people a year at its Lied Dining Room at St. Vincent Plaza.

According to Marlene Richter, director of social services for Catholic Charities, the agency helps feed 25,000 to 30,000 individuals in crisis each year through its social service program.

The organization plans to feed about 1,800 people at Thanksgiving dinner 1:30 p.m. Thursday at its 1502 N. Main St. shelter and dining room. Another 500 families will be provided with the food boxes to prepare Thanksgiving dinners through the organization's social service department.

The Salvation Army projects it will feed 410,000 people in its dining room this year, including 1,800 at two Thanksgiving dinners.

The first meal will be provided by the employees of Circus Circus at 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve and will serve about 1,100 people. The other will be at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and will feed about 700 people. Both dinners will be served at the organization's 35 W. Owens Ave. shelter and dining room.

Through its social service program, the Salvation Army expects to help feed 50,000 people this year.

To do that the organization must hustle in November and December to fill its pantry.

"More than 75 percent of our total food donations for the year is given to us in November and December," Lt. Col. Jim Sullivan, the Clark County coordinator for the Salvation Army, said.

"Our goal is to collect enough cans to meet our needs not only for the holiday season, but for the next 12 months. If we are going to have food for families in April and July we have to collect it now."

Dodge said that 65 percent of the organization's annual food supply comes from a single event -- the 12th Annual Boulder Dam Boy Scout Council "Scouting for Food" drive, which was held this past weekend.

Dodge said in the drive's first 11 years, local Scouts collected 1,614,210 cans of food weighing 809.1 tons. A record 256,800 cans were collected last year. This weekend's drive collected 224,000 cans of food weighing 112 tons.

Other organizations also are helping the poor get through the holidays. They include:

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