It takes all of us to combat hunger

By Colleen O'Callaghan-Miele

Wednesday, April 15, 2009 | 5:25 p.m.

I love Nevada — it has been my home since April 1957. As a Nevadan it would make sense that I have traveled our state. Through my travels I have found that in every county there are exceptional community leaders. It is the business owners, executives, and hands-on citizens that take pride and have concern for those in the community that are faced with challenging times or underserved. Here in our community we have organizations that are collaborating with one another to not duplicate services, which ultimately has resulted in an efficient, productive and fiscally responsible approach to meeting the needs of those in our community. A primary example of non-duplication of services through pure collaboration is Three Squares.

Three Squares provides a clearinghouse for food banks throughout the Las Vegas Valley to obtain canned goods cheaply and easily. In addition to serving as a clearing house they distributes to over two hundred local nonprofit and faith-based partners operating food pantries, soup kitchens, youth programs, senior centers and other programs in our valley.

Executive Director Julie Murray, her team and the board she serves believe in this one thing: Ending hunger is a formidable challenge, but it's something we can achieve if we work together as a community.

If everyone in Southern Nevada did just one thing — no matter how small — to help provide food to the food-insecure, we could change the face of our city forever.

I toured the well-managed and organized Three Square facility recently and saw packed plastic crates lined up along long tables. They were set up for a crew of volunteers such as Chris Wellendorf, a family friend and colleague, to assemble bags of kid-friendly, shelf-stable foods for children who lack adequate food over the weekend. This program in itself speaks loudly for Three Square.

When reflecting upon those in our communities, such as our children, seniors and veterans, who go to sleep on an empty stomach, it pulls hard on my heartstrings.

I applaud visionaries such as Eric Hilton, founder of Three Square. Hilton's passion for helping the hungry brought Three Square to life. And this part I love: He is also veteran of the Korean War.

Additional givers are Punam Mathur, board president; Christopher Handy, secretary; Kirk Clausen, treasurer; and board members Andy Abboud, Brian Ayala, William S. Boyd, Fran Inman, Dr. Ikram Khan, Emily Neilson, Peter O'Neill, Jan Pruitt, Thom Reilly, Dick Rizzo, George Smith and last but not least, Carolyn Towbin. These community givers should receive a standing ovation for their vision and mission.

United Way and ThreeSquare are two examples of organizations that are making a difference in lives. It's humbling but also a reassuring to realize that at any time, this may be a resource you or I could need. The most precious gifts we are given here on Earth are our family and friends. The limited and most needed is the gift of time, so use it and give it wisely and unconditionally when giving for a good cause.

You and I could and may very well be the next in need of a helping hand up or hope, so as I share with you, keep that in mind.

Colleen O’Callaghan-Miele, co-publisher of the Home News, can be reached at 990-2653 or [email protected]. She writes a regular blog online at mcommv.blogspot.com.