The Reno-Sparks area has roughly 57 food pantries available to the public, but most of them are closed during the two weeks of the holidays.
However a handful of food pantry locations are open before the holidays for families and those in need to come get groceries for their Christmas dinners.
Places open on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
Four places will be open for food needs in Reno-Sparks on the eves of the holidays:
Sparks United Methodist Church, at 1231 Pyramid Way in Sparks, will be open to pick up groceries on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A photo ID is necessary to pick up food.Nevada Cares Campus at 1800 Threlkel St. in Reno, will have an open dining room with hot cocoa, cider, desserts and music Christmas Eve. Catholic Charities will also deliver Christmas meals provided by the Nugget Casino for anyone staying at the Cares Campus.Our Place shelter at 605 S. 21st St. will be open on Christmas with meals provided by their in-house service.The Reno Salvation Army at 1931 Sutro St. will be closed Dec. 25-26 and Jan. 1. However, it’ll be open and serving food on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m.Places open before the holidays
There are a few places that will be open before the holiday season begins, for people who may be in need of groceries before everything closes:
Women and Children’s Center of the Sierra’s pantry at 3905 Neil Road will be closed the week of Christmas but will reopen Monday Dec. 30 from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. It will be closed New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.Northern Nevada Member Assistance Program’s pantry at 570 Reactor Way will be open Monday Dec. 23 and Monday Dec. 30 from noon to 4 p.m.University Family Fellowship at 1125 Stanford Way in Sparks will be open Saturday Dec. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.Rehoboth Holy Temple’s Heavenly Pantry at 700 Smithridge Drive will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday Dec. 28.Valley View Christian Fellowship at 1805 Geiger Grade Road will be open Sunday Dec. 22 from 8 to 9 a.m. and will serve extras including ham.Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada and the St. Vincent’s Food Pantry at 500 E. Fourth St. in Reno will be serving extra hams or other food from their Christmas baskets on a first-come, first-serve basis Monday Dec. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon.Places open for kids meals
All Washoe County School District food pantries will be closed for two weeks during the holidays starting Dec. 23.
However, students can still get free meals, provided by Kids Cafe, during the holiday break at four other locations. All sites will be closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center at 1301 Valley Rd. will be open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday over the break, serving breakfast from 8:30 to 9 a.m. and lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m.North Valleys Library at 1075 N. Hills Blvd. will be open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, serving lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon.Sparks Library at 1125 12th St. in Sparks will be open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, serving lunch from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.Downtown Reno Library at 301 S. Center St. will be open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, serving lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon.
All meals are required to be eaten on-site, and children do not have to attend any programming in order to be served a meal.
Jaedyn Young covers local government for the Reno Gazette-Journal. Her wages are 100% funded by donations and grants; if you’d like to see more stories like this one, please consider donating at RGJ.com/donate. Send your story ideas and feedback to Jaedyn at jyoung@rgj.com.