Even as people socially distance to stave off the coronavirus, aka Covid-19, and keep healthy, Olive Crest Nevada continues, as ever, to serve the Las Vegas Valley.
Olive Crest, a nonprofit group dedicated to preventing child abuse and strengthening families, offers a family resource center, foster care program and emergency food pantry to support the community. Because coronavirus-related business shutdowns have left thousands of valley residents, including teens served by Olive Crest, laid off or out of work, the need for donations of products to serve basic needs is intensely acute; for example, one of Olive Crest’s programs, Operation Independence, provides foster youth ages 17 to 21 with the support and training they need to become self-sufficient, successful adults.
Olive Crest Nevada seeks immediate donations of new, unopened hygiene products such as shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, toothbrushes, mouthwash, lotions and baby items. The nonprofit also seeks donations of canned and nonperishable food. Monetary donations can be made online at www.olivecrest.org/covid-nv.
“Between our signature Operation Independence and Safe Families programs and our foster care program, our organization has yielded more than 7,000 safe nights for vulnerable children in Southern Nevada,” said Evelyn Kovacevich, community involvement coordinator at Olive Crest Nevada. “More families are struggling right now and need immediate help. Sometimes something as simple as food or hygiene products can help stop the cycle of abuse.”
Although Olive Crest Nevada is still serving clients, it will keep the doors of its office at office at 4285 N. Rancho Drive locked to safeguard staff and client health and safety. In-person client needs assessments and pickups of items linked to phone assessments will happen outside the building.
Clients outside Oliver Crest’s Rancho Drive office should call 702-685-3459 to let staff know they are at the door for assistance. . People with deliveries should call 702-835-1907 so Olive Crest can receive the items.
About Olive Crest:
Since 1973, Olive Crest has transformed the lives of over 100,000 abused, neglected, and at-risk children and their families. We work tirelessly to meet the individual needs of kids in crisis by providing safe homes, counseling, and education for both youth and parents. Our many innovative programs reflect our conviction that strengthening the family is one of the most powerful ways to help heal children. With unwavering compassion, the Olive Crest family maintains a lifelong commitment to the youth and families we serve even after they have graduated from our programs.
Olive Crest serves nearly 3,500 children and families each day throughout California, Nevada, and the Pacific Northwest. For information, call 800.550.CHILD (2445) or visit www.olivecrest.org.