FEED VEGAS: Celebrating 84 Years of Service in Southern Nevada, Catholic Charities Invites Community to Help Strengthen Programs

More than eight decades serving Southern Nevadans in need, Catholic Charities calls for community support, hosts special annual feast

LAS VEGAS (April 7, 2025) – Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada(CCSN) celebrates its 84^th year of serving the Las Vegas Valley since originally opening its doors on April 16, 1941. The nonprofit continues to serve its community with several vital social services, including several different food and nutrition programs: Hands of Hope Community Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels Program and the St. Vincent Lied Dining Facility.

During the month of April, CCSN hosts its Feed Vegas Campaign, a community service initiative focused on garnering donations to fund food programs, and also offering volunteer opportunities. The organization encourages community service, at a time when community members and their families may be struggling with food insecurity.

Catholic Charities continues to be effective in providing food and nutrition service to those in need due to issues being faced across the nation, including increasing food osts, inflation rates and rising housing and rent costs, displacing many.

·       Hands of Hope Community Food Pantry. Amid economic uncertainty, Catholic Charities has continued to offer grocery items for clients. In 2024, the organization distributed more than 2.9 million pounds of food to around 46,925 people in need.

·       Meals on Wheels. The nonprofit steadily serves homebound seniors daily through its Meals on Wheels program in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas. Last year alone, CCSN delivered over 803,263 meals to 4,303 homebound seniors at no cost to the clients. The organization focuses on the sustainability of serving the current number of recipients for the program, while looking at the future infrastructure for growth.

·       St. Vincent Lied Dining Facility. On average CCSN serves an average of 425 community members a day for its free community meal. The daily meal is served at 10 a.m. and offers a hot, nutritious food to those in need. Festive celebratory feasts were served throughout the year across various holiday celebrations. On April 25, CCSN will host its special annual “Feed Vegas” community meal to coincide with its anniversary. The annual ‘Feed Vegas’ meal, supported by MGM Resorts International, seeks to gather volunteers, staff, and guests alike to enjoy a celebratory meal. All are welcome to enjoy a hearty meal of braised beef chuck, cilantro lime rice, refried beans, flour tortillas, roasted tomato salsa, garnished with diced onion and cilantro. Served with horchata and tres leche apple cobbler for dessert.

“With more than eight decades of providing service and assistance to our vulnerable community members, we’re honored to continue our mission to this day,” said Sara Ramirez, CEO of Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada. “We have long worked collaboratively with our esteemed donors and volunteers to address the needs of the community, and we encourage anyone who believes in the power of hope to help us, especially this month, to make a crucial difference for those in need.”

As a community resource, CCSN depends on their hundreds of volunteers and donors to further the organization’s mission. In 2024, more than 18,000 hours of service was provided by their 4,372 volunteers across eight different services including: serving at the daily Community Meals and Hands of Hope Food Pantry, assembling hygiene kits and volunteering for holiday events.

CCSN accepts monetary and food donations to support its ongoing efforts. Currently top five needed items are canned protein (Tuna, Chicken, Spam, Canned Ham),canned fruit, canned vegetables, boxed cereal, and breakfast items such as oatmeal and peanut butter and jelly. To learn more about how to donate to CCSN or volunteer service to one of its many social programs, visit catholiccharities.com/donate.

About Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada
Since 1941, the mission of Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada has been to serve those in need — the most vulnerable — regardless of race, religion or creed.  This leading community resource offers help and hope with dignity as it strives to meet the diverse needs of men, women and children in Southern Nevada.  Through the generosity of foundations, grants, organizations and individual donors, Catholic Charities operates 16 programs providing support to more than 4,500people daily and encompassing four core areas: Family Services, Food Services, Immigration and Refugee Services and Homeless and Housing Services.  Catholic Charities also operates the largest Meals on Wheels program and Emergency Shelter Services in Southern Nevada.  For additional information, please visit CatholicCharities.com.

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