Join the Boy Scouts’ Annual Food Drive: Support Salvation Army Pantry in Overcoming Supply Challenges!

Food insecurity is increasing in the Las Vegas Valley. In response, local organizations are stepping up to help those in need.

This weekend, the Salvation Army is teaming up with the Boy Scouts for a canned food drive. They’ll be collecting donations at several Smith’s grocery stores in the area.

For 37 years, the Boy Scouts have worked with the Salvation Army to gather canned food for their pantry. Amanda Fusco, the Family Services Coordinator at the Salvation Army, shared that the pantry is in a tough spot right now. It used to serve around 500 families, but that number has dropped to just 30 due to food shortages. “We simply don’t have it,” she stated.

In Henderson, a new Grocery Outlet on St. Rose Parkway is helping families save money on groceries. Paula Adams, a shopper from Boulder City, said she brought some neighbors along to shop together. She saved $74.54 on her grocery bill!

Kari Maloney, who runs the Henderson Grocery Outlet, explained how their store works. “We buy overstocks and overruns,” she noted. The model is especially valuable as many community members face food challenges. “I’m one of those people,” Maloney added, referencing her own budget concerns.

Fusco is optimistic that the canned food drive will gather enough to support the food pantry through Thanksgiving. “We all see our grocery bills,” she said. “This pantry helps a lot of seniors and those on disability.”

Adams mentioned that many families are changing their eating habits due to rising costs. “Everybody is going back to simpler times. We’re cooking at home more and sharing meals,” she observed.

More Grocery Outlet locations are set to open in the valley later this year, providing additional opportunities for families to save.

The canned food drive happens on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with many Smith’s locations participating.