LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — As the government shutdown eclipsed the one-month mark, the financial strain on our country only intensified.
Nov. 1 signified the end of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for millions of Americans, making tasks like paying for groceries nearly impossible.
That’s why Three Square, the largest food bank serving Southern Nevada, executed a food distribution event at Thomas & Mack Center to assist Las Vegans who are struggling.
“We’re here distributing thousands of pounds of food to families in need,” said Beth Martino, Three Square President and CEO. “The volume of people that we expect to see coming out for these emergency distributions may be double or triple what we would expect.”
Martino told FOX5 she expected 1,000 people to come get one of the 60-pound food care packages.
It’s a larger haul than what they normally give away. Three Square leaders said 60 pounds of food should feed a family of four for about a week.
The care packages were put together by hundreds of volunteers, mostly comprised of UNLV students and staff.
“I think that we have students who are SNAP recipients, and so therefore will be impacted,” said Dr. Constance Brooks, Vice President of Government and Community Engagement at UNLV. “Our students are everyday Nevadans also, and they are impacted by the government shutdown just as much as others are across the valley.”
The Thomas & Mack Center was just one of several locations across the valley Saturday, playing host to food distribution drives. The others included TCMI Church on North Rainbow Boulevard, Center Church in Henderson and College of Southern Nevada in North Las Vegas.
FOX5 went to the latter where Lisa Segler, Three Square’s Chief Operation and Systems Officer, gave perspective on the financial struggles people are feeling beyond just food.
“There are 5 to 6 households in one car today because folks have transportation issues. Can’t afford gas, can’t afford cars or insurance,” Segler said. “They were already stretched thin before, but we are just seeing people at their absolute max right now. The cost of everything is still increasing, and people just can’t do it anymore.”
According to Segler, Three Square has seen a 16% spike in people utilizing their food banks over the last four months. 75% of that spike includes people using these resources for the first time.
“Some of these folks today, I promise, have not accessed any type of charitable food network in their lives before,” Segler said.
“I’m just so grateful that people are willing to come out. There’s always a lot of stigma around being in need.”
Seeing too many people in need gave perspective to volunteers like Evelyn Valenica who has been connected to Three Square’s cause for some time. She said the ongoing shutdown has provided a deeper meaning to the challenges people are facing and how the community is supporting them.
“What’s eye-opening is it doesn’t matter vehicle they’re driving, it doesn’t matter what they’re dressed like, everyone in our community needs food,” Valencia said. “It’s impacting no matter what zip code, what area you come from. It’s also really great to see our community coming together.”
Copyright 2025 KVVU. All rights reserved.
