Agencies cite need for on-going food assistance

Local charitable organizations are taking stock after the holidays, when donations dip but the need for help continues.

"We are pretty much wiped out," said Capt. Erica Helton of The Salvation Army. "We were very busy during the holidays and managed to get just enough toys to meet the needs (of the community) by the skin of our teeth.

"Even with extra requests, God still did good, as did the community, and they provided. We consider it quite an accomplishment everyone was able to be helped."

Helton said they served 663 families during the holidays. But people are still in need of assistance.

"We still have families who come to us after Christmas who have to eat," she said. "We need the in-between holiday help with non-perishable foods " standard cupboard items like soups, rice and all that."

The organization has a food closet with a small freezer, so it can accept some frozen meats as well as non-perishable food.

Joyce Buckingham, director of the Ron Wood Family Resource Center, which was also the center for the Toys for Tots program, said they helped 2,500 people with food baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

"Folks are always welcome to come in for our food bank," Buckingham said. "We're only too happy to continue to do that.

"As an ongoing thing, we can always use non-perishable foods and sundry supplies. Donations are always welcome."

As far as Toys for Tots, they provided for 5,100 kids. They also assisted 14 other agencies with toys and services, and gave away 101 bicycles.

"We have never had such numbers (before)," Buckingham said. "Though our monetary donations were down about 50 percent, the community was very generous with their toy donations. Overall, we served more than 7,000 people. We consider that very successful. That's up more than 50 percent over 2007."

The center recently received a few hundred pounds of food from Clayton Homes in Mound House. Sales consultant Kimberly Roberts organized a food drive to help the center.

Friends in Service Helping distributed 742 food baskets for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

"Some families we helped with both holidays, but it was a total of 1,058 turkeys and associated side dishes for a complete meal," said Jeff Fast, director.

Fast said they had a few turkeys left over, which will be cooked and served in the dining room.

"We still need non-perishable foods on an ongoing basis," Fast added. "The October food drive held by the area schools was much less than we anticipated, so we will need donations between now and May, when the postal carriers hold their food drive."

- Contact Rhonda Costa at rcosta

@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.

WHO: The Salvation Army

WHERE: 661 Colorado St.

CALL: 887-9120

WHO: FISH

WHERE: 138 E. Long St.

CALL: 882-3474

WHO: Ron Wood Family Resource Center

WHERE: 212 E. Winnie Lane

CALL: 884-2269