In her article, “How Nevada is Tackling the Growing Food Insecurity Crisis for Seniors,” journalist Kelsea Forbes discusses several alarming increases in food insecurity among Nevada’s elderly, highlighting those who have been affected since the cuts in federal pandemic benefits that provided critical support to this vulnerable population. Forbes examines how various organizations, including Three Square, state programs, and local food pantries, are working to combat this issue. For example, she spotlights the work of “Three Square partners with food pantries, local farmers, and businesses to distribute food across the region, ensuring no one goes hungry” (Smith), demonstrating the wide-reaching efforts to curb food insecurity.
Nationally, rates of food insecurity are on the rise, and Nevada’s seniors are among those most severely affected, with estimates indicating more than 10 percent of the state’s elderly population struggles to access food. Well before the pandemic, many older adults faced nutritional challenges due to fixed incomes, health issues, or a lack of affordable food. As pandemic relief programs fade away, more seniors than ever are finding it difficult to afford healthy meals. Forbes points out that while Nevada’s elderly population is growing, the resources to support them are diminishing. She notes, “More than 400,000 people in Southern Nevada, including seniors, experience food insecurity, according to data from Three Square” (Forbes), a stark reminder of the critical need for assistance.
Organizations like Three Square Food Bank have played a pivotal role in delivering food to those in need, but they too are feeling the strain of rising demand. This is yet another example of how businesses, nonprofit enterprises, and government agencies collaborate as part of an attempt to solve the problem. These events vary from pop-up food stands working with and helping local farmers, allowing for an increase in the delivery to shut-in seniors. The increased demand also poses numerous challenges in terms of transport, finance, and fair distribution, hence begging the question of how such activities could last. As much of this work is funded by donations and grants, Forbes emphasizes that “the decline in federal pandemic aid has worsened food insecurity in vulnerable populations” (Smith), impacting organizations like Three Square and their ability to serve the community.
The state of Nevada has also been very receptive in handling incidents of food insecurity. Large businesses, like MGM Resorts International, have supplemented that with donations of excess food to help fix supply and reduce waste. As local journalist Jack Brown underlines, “MGM alone has donated more than 800,000 pounds of food over the last two years, hundreds of thousands of meals for those in need” (Brown). MGM also donates additional meals to Three Square, while any extra food is composted, showcasing the number of large corporations that are contributing toward food security locally and environmentally. It matches surplus food from the hospitality industry with community needs so as to eliminate disposable waste and make sure that food is conveyed to the neediest sections.
Again, distribution networks –from fresh produce to other staples– are critical among the senior population, with success stories such as one from Calderon’s report from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), “The pop-up produce stand at the Bonneville Transit Center aims to provide affordable, organic produce to people in Las Vegas who cannot access fresh food”, further aiding low-income seniors in access to healthy foods. These stands are authorized to take the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to increase access to healthy foods, proving to be a more viable approach to food security.
Despite these measures, however, the rates of food insecurity among seniors in Nevada remain alarmingly high. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, an estimated 7.3 percent of households containing seniors in this state have very low food security. Perhaps one of the largest, though, relates to transportation. As one report by Alex Calderon, from the American Association of Retired Persons by Alex Calderon indicated, one of the most important challenges toward helping Nevada seniors is, in fact, reliable transportation. As Calderon noted, “Food insecurity in urban areas is usually exacerbated by transportation barriers that this program intends to help resolve,” which really brings up the need for transit solutions.
While organizations like Three Square have risen to the challenge by corporate partners and government programs in trying to make a difference, it remains an issue: logistical challenges, lack of overall funding, and limited federal support for food and nutrition programs being part of them. Ending food insecurity, experts say, will take more state and federal investments, along with policy reforms that offer improved healthy food access in the unserved sections of the state. Whereas Nevada will be successful in upgrading transportation services for the elderly, increasing the funds in the food program, and encouraging community involvement, Brown concludes, “Corporate responsibility in Nevada’s hospitality industry is increasingly focused on community support through food donations and sustainability”, which goes to show what local efforts can achieve.
The rising issue of food insecurity for Nevada’s elderly is compounded by reduced federal assistance, difficult transportation, and a lack of food resources. Nevada can work to ensure its seniors have appropriate nutrition through increased funding, increased access to transportation, and civic involvement. When state officials, businesses, and civic groups come together, Nevada has a better chance of reducing food insecurity for its elderly residents.
Works Cited
Forbes, Kelsea. “How Nevada is Tackling the Growing Food Insecurity Crisis for Seniors.” Nevada Public Radio, August 2024, thenevadaindependent.com/article/how-nevada-is-attempting-to-tackle-the-growing-food-insecurity-crisis-for-seniors. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.
Brown, Jack. “How Las Vegas Resorts are Fighting Food Waste and Feeding the Hungry.” Las Vegas Review-Journal, 17 Oct. 2024, www.reviewjournal.com/local/how-las-vegas-resorts-are-fighting-food-waste. Accessed 19 Oct. 2024.
Calderon, Jannelle. “Pop-up Produce Stand at Vegas Bus Station Aims to Make Fresh Food More Accessible.” The Nevada Independent, 3 Oct. 2024, thenevadaindependent.com/article/pop-up-produce-stand-at-vegas-bus-station-aims-to-make-fresh-food-more-accessible. Accessed 19 Oct. 2024.
Smith, Aaron. “Three Square’s Fight Against Hunger in Southern Nevada.” Nevada Public Radio, 12 Oct. 2024, www.knpr.org/local-news/2024/10/three-square-food-distribution-hunger-nevada. Accessed 19 Oct. 2024.
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