On Feb. 8, the final day of the Specialty Food Association’s Winter Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas, many of the Show's 800 exhibitors donated their surplus specialty food to Three Square Food Bank, Southern Nevada’s sole food bank and largest hunger relief organization, and F.R.E.E. International, an anti-human trafficking organization.
“The Specialty Food Association traditionally ends its Fancy Food Shows with food rescue,” said Jennifer Carney, director, tradeshow operations, for the SFA. “Our members were happy to partner with Las Vegas organizations working hard to support people in their community.”
The donated meats, cheeses, plant-based foods, confections, snacks, and other specialties totaled more than 20,000 pounds. Three Square received 8,573 pounds of food which equates to approximately 7,144 meals.
"Nearly 364,000 Southern Nevadans are food-insecure, that's one in six people who don't know where their next meal is coming from," said Three Square Food Bank President and CEO Brian Burton. "Thanks to the generous donation provided by the SFA Winter Fancy Food Show, we're able to distribute additional meals to those in need right here in our community. It's partners like SFA that continue to drive us, fueling our fight against hunger and pursuit of a hunger-free community."
F.R.E.E. International received perishables weighing in over 12,000 pounds.
"On behalf of F.R.E.E. International, we are so grateful to The Specialty Food Association's Winter Fancy Food Show for providing us with such a generous donation of perishable foods. F.R.E.E. International works to Find Restore Embrace and Empower families in the Las Vegas valley through a variety of outreach, training, services and care to reduce human trafficking and exploitation, and we couldn't be more appreciative of this incredibly bountiful donation,” said Aaron Hansel, Free International Las Vegas, 1000 Men for Freedom Director. “It's truly an honor to be a recipient of these much-needed products, and they will be distributed immediately to the deserving individuals, families and partnering organizations that serve our community."
Related: Seen at the Winter Fancy Food Show: Day 1; Meijer Donates to National Supplier Development Council.