The Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission will step up its evening meal program to fill a gap in services to the homeless created by budget deficits facing the City and County.

Click here to read the Reno Gazette-Journal article

To save $250,000, the agencies voted to eliminate the evening meals program at the Community Assistance Center beginning July 1. Catholic Community Services of Northern Nevada had been providing sandwiches and sack dinners to the men, women and families at the campus’ three shelters.

The Gospel Mission’s decision will come at no cost to taxpayers.

The Mission serves about 120 hot meals per night to homeless men and women, but will increase that load to serve an estimated 400 per night, including those residing in “tent city,” said Rick Redding, executive director.

Tent city has about 175 men and women staying in the makeshift campground set up to accommodate those who cannot or decline to utilize the public shelters.

While the campus becomes chaotic at times with various groups trying to serve meals to the homeless, Redding said he hopes to work with those groups, government agencies and others to bring order and stability to the evening scene.

Redding said he’s already met with city officials to discuss the plan and will meet next week with Volunteers of America, which contracts with the city and county to operate the shelters.

“Hunger is a community problem that requires a community solution,” he said. “I have no doubt that we can work together on this because I think we all want the same thing: For no one to go hungry. But we have to do things differently and I’m hoping that everyone pulls together to make this happen as smoothly as possible.”

Using its resources and close connection with the Northern Nevada Food Bank, Redding said the Mission will offer such meals as chicken and sausage jambalaya over rice, ham and beans, and spaghetti with salad and garlic bread.

Redding encourages churches and other groups to contact the Mission to share resources and coordinate meal services out of the Mission’s dining hall.

“If a group still wants to make meals and bring them to the campus, we’ll make sure they’re up to health code temperatures and provide a sanitary environment for them to work in,” he said. “There is enough food to feed everyone. We just need to come together in distributing it.”

While the move saves taxpayer expenses and relies solely on Mission resources, Redding said he hopes the community will help with food and other costs as the Mission takes on the nightly service.

To donate food, paper supplies or to help financially, the community is asked to call 323-7999. Groups or others who want to serve or assist in the dinner program should call 323-0386, ext. 16.