A sign advertises the Food Bank's Summer Food Program for kids.

Sierra Nevada Job Corps has had a great long-standing relationship with the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. For years now, the students and staff have helped pack boxes, sort through donated food, helped glean food from industry food shows, and helped distribute boxes of food for needy seniors. These efforts have resulted in hundreds of hours of help that trickles down to the needy in the community. In fact, the center has grossed the highest number of volunteer hours contributed by any group in the area for the past three years. Recently, the center has grown that relationship and become a partner with the Food Bank’s Summer Food Program. The Summer Food program provides free meals for children in low-income neighborhoods who typically depend on the free or reduced-fee lunches through their schools. It is an effort to ensure those children still have a nutritious meal even when school is out. 

The center has committed to volunteering at two sites, Stead Manor and Dorothy McAlinden Park, in an effort to help the Food Bank with this program. Tasks include helping the children understand the rules of the program, ensuring that meal sites stay clean , and, as an added benefit, coming up with quick but fun physical activities for the children to participate in to teach them the importance of an active lifestyle. Staff and students began working with the program on June 11 and will be helping through August 17, Monday through Friday. 

Sierra Nevada Job Corps Center is committed to continuing its support of the community and the organizations that help its most vulnerable citizens! If you are a non-profit in need of volunteer help, please contact Helyse Turner at (775) 789-0803 or turner.helyse@jobcorps.org. 

Sierra Nevada Job Corps students pass out handwipes and help children line up for lunch.

Sierra Nevada Job Corps student volunteers