Tuesday, June 18, 2024 | 2 a.m.
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Thirty miles outside of Las Vegas near Creech Air Force Base sits the rural, desert town of Indian Springs. The community consists primarily of military families and retirees, along with a single Dollar General store for everyone’s groceries.
The town is often overlooked. Food insecurity is rampant. Resources are limited.
My team at Celestial Manna does its best to provide these Southern Nevada residents with the sustenance they need for optimal health, distributing donated food from Las Vegas grocers and restaurants on a biweekly basis. Fridges and cabinets are filled. Our clients are grateful. And yet, I’m constantly wondering how we can do more.
Earlier this month, residents of all ages came together at the pantry to celebrate a recent food grant the community had been awarded, and something amazing happened. People came early for the food but stayed late for the event’s nutrition education resources, kids’ games and conversations with their neighbors. Activity, curiosity and hope filled the space. Our team wasn’t just serving food anymore but also knowledge and connection. Our services had gone a step further.
When starting a hunger- relief effort, you must first focus on meeting your clients’ physiological needs. Food — humans can’t live without it. However, once your foundational services are set, you can elevate your impact by addressing the next levels of human needs, such as “safety and security” or “love and belonging.”
It’s a blessing to receive a tub of yogurt from your local food pantry. But what if you also received the knowledge on how to get the most out of that yogurt, such as how to include it in a variety of recipes (parfaits, dips, sauces, smoothies, etc.) or how to properly store it long term to optimize shelf life (1-2 months in the freezer)? What if you learned why dairy is good for your health, such as the 13 essential nutrients it provides including protein?
It’s a blessing to have a warm meal. But what if you could enjoy that meal over stimulating conversation? What if you could also fill yourself up with laughter, expression and new friendships?
When we continue to build upon this hierarchy, we raise our community’s collective sense of self-efficacy, confidence and creativity. We decrease food insecurity, while increasing general quality of life. We humans hunger for many things. If you are engaged in any sort of philanthropic work, I hope you will never cease to seek out new ways to feed your local community.
Erin Koch is the West Coast regional director of operations for Celestial Manna, a faith-based 501(c)(3) food recovery nonprofit. Based in Las Vegas, Koch helps Celestial Manna maintain connections with local food and equipment donation partners, allowing the nonprofit to serve hundreds of families near the Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases.
