LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — As food insecurity continues to rise in Southern Nevada—with nearly one in six people and over one in five children struggling to access meals—one local partnership is making a measurable impact.
The Food Rescue Alliance, a collaboration between The Just One Project and The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, is putting waste to work and turning surplus into support for hundreds of families every week.
What would normally end up as leftover food is now feeding families across the valley.
“What this partnership does is rescues food on a large scale, repackages it, and gets it into the hands and the partners who use that food to help sustain families here in Nevada,” Mimi Diebold, Director of Special Projects for The Just One Project, said.
On Tuesday morning alone, The Just One Project and volunteers picked up about 700 pounds of food from the Venetian Resort Las Vegas.
“Any food that is in surplus after a convention or expo, we are able to repackage, get it out into the community the same day with the help of The Just One Project,” Anna Schmid, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility for The Venetian, explained.
The items change daily—from hot breakfasts like eggs and bacon to fresh salads, gourmet pastries, and proteins like chicken and steak. But it all has to move fast.
“The only way we’re able to make sure this food stays 5-star quality is by doing this fast and getting it out fast,” Food rescue manager Joshua Mike said. “Our turnaround is within 2 hours from the time the event ends to the time it’s at our client’s table. That way, we maintain that freshness and eliminate any type of food-borne illnesses.”
That speed and scale make a big difference.
“A good 500 families will be served very comfortably – that’s extra, that’s seconds,” said Mike.
Once packed, the meals are loaded into cars and delivered directly to families in need throughout the valley.
Volunteers like Larraine Leisure help throughout the entire process, from repackaging to hand-delivering the food to community partners, including an adult daycare for nonverbal individuals.
“That is my number one blessing. I think that is so amazing because even though they can’t communicate with me, I can tell by their smile that they’re thrilled to receive this food from JOP,” Leisure said.
She also prepares and delivers hot meals to her elderly and disabled neighbors.
“It lifts my spirits to be able to come here and help other people,” Leisure added. “There’s a need, there’s a big need for people to receive food.”
Since the program began in 2023, the Food Rescue Alliance has delivered more than 400,000 meals.
“It’s extremely vital. When we have one in six Nevadans going hungry or not knowing where their next meal is coming from, this program is so fantastic because instead of throwing that food away, it’s being repurposed; it’s being rescued and given to people who actually need it,” Diebold said.
In addition to the food rescue, The Just One Project has several other food programs to provide quality meals and groceries to families across the valley. For more information, visit More Than Just Groceries – The Just One Project.
