To help meet the food needs of students, Project 150 with Smith’s Food & Drug is providing over 6,500 meals to feed young people in need who may be food insecure or negatively impacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Approximately 1 in 5 children in Nevada struggle with hunger, and COVID-19 has exacerbated the situation. Students fighting hunger are unable to concentrate, have poor attendance and suffer anxiety. These students often fall behind academically, drop out before graduation, exhibit behavior problems and experience substance abuse issues.
“Project 150 started in December 2011, when we learned that the Clark County School District had an overwhelming number of homeless teenagers attending school,” said Stacy Chapter, Project 150 Las Vegas Community Outreach Manager. “We helped provide solutions to the needs of these students with partners like Smith’s. Project 150 is appreciative of their continued support.”
The donation from Smith’s Food & Drug Stores supports the company’s visionary Zero Hunger | Zero Waste plan which is aiming to end hunger in communities and eliminate waste across the company by 2025.
“Smith’s is eager to support school children who have been disproportionately impacted by food insecurities,” said Aubriana Martindale, Smith’s Corporate Affairs Manager. “We are proud to support the mission of Project 150 in Las Vegas by providing meals to help nourish students and allow them to focus on their future.”
About Project 150
Project 150 is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization, founded in December 2011 by local businessmen Don Purdue and Patrick Spargur. The two heard about 150 homeless high school students at Rancho High School in Las Vegas who were in need of support over the Christmas break. Since that time, Project 150 has expanded and now serves more than 5,900 registered and non-registered homeless, displaced and disadvantaged high school students in more than 61 schools in Southern Nevada. Project 150 provides these students with food, clothing, school supplies, sports equipment, shoes, college scholarships, workforce readiness, and other needs so they can continue school and be successful in life. For more information, visit www.project150.org.
###