Charity boosts capacity to serve thousands more clients
A move down the street to a new facility has done more for Lutheran Social Services of Nevada than just transfer its operations to a different building. It has provided an opportunity for the nonprofit group to serve 7,000 more clients, expand programs and triple the size of its food pantry.
Lutheran Social Services staff members began moving into the new building at 73 Spectrum Blvd. in September and held their grand opening Jan. 19. Tom Maata, director of development, said the difference between the two facilities is significant, especially in the expanded food pantry.
"There's so much more room than we had before," Maata said. "Clients can take two carts down the aisle now without bumping into each other. We're able to buy more bulk items in larger quantities ... In the past, we had to use freezers off-site to store food, and now we can store them here."
Seniors and homeless individuals who qualify may receive food once a month from the food pantry while families may visit once every two months. The food pantry has a supermarket-style setup, something in which Maata takes pride.
"We want to foster a culture of dignity among our clients," Maata said. "We don't get a box of food to take home at the supermarket, so we want to be able to offer the same dignity to our clients with our food pantry."
Maata estimates that about 80 to 120 people visit the food pantry each day . The pantry is open from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday and Wednesday to Friday.
The organization's former pantry, Maata said, served more than 16,500 clients in its last fiscal year. A $103,119 grant from the United Way of Southern Nevada, Maata said, will allow the nonprofit group to purchase more food and help cover rent expenses with its housing services.
In addition to a larger food pantry, the organization has an expanded intake area for clients and a clothing closet from which people can select job interview outfits. Maata said he is looking forward to the nonprofit group's program in which clients can receive mental health services from a licensed practitioner. He hopes to roll out the program in the coming months.
Another service Lutheran Social Services offers is its Supportive Housing program, which provides temporary apartments to homeless families with small children in addition to life skills classes and meetings with case workers.
Program participant Shiona Owens said she has made more progress than initially anticipated. Since enrolling in the program a couple of months ago, Owens said she started taking nursing classes at the College of Southern Nevada and gained a better understanding of responsibility, especially with her 2-year-old daughter.
"I've been here in so little time and accomplished so much," Owens said. "(The program) gave me a lot of determination. I couldn't depend on anyone anymore. I learned how to be independent and transform into a better person for myself and my daughter."
Maata said that with Lutheran Social Services of Nevada's food pantry and services, he envisions the new facility as a central point for clients to take advantage of numerous assistance opportunities.
"Our ultimate goal is for this (organization) to become a one-stop shop," Maata said. "We offer résumé writing and computer skills classes, birth certificate and I D services By bringing these things together, we'll continue to expand."
For more information on Lutheran Social Services of Nevada, call 639-1730 or visit lssnv.org.
Contact Paradise/Downtown View reporter Lisa Carter at lcarter@viewnews.com or 383-4686.
