“Every week it makes a huge difference. Without this, I could not survive.”
That’s how one community member described what Sierra Community House’s weekly food distribution means to them. This spring, our Hunger Relief team asked the people who come to our distributions in Truckee, Kings Beach, and Incline Village a simple question: What does reliable access to food mean for your family?
The answers came in English and Spanish, from seasonal workers, parents, veterans, and retirees across all three communities. Together, they show what this program really means to our community.
Filling the gap at the grocery store
One thread ran through nearly every response: groceries cost too much, and food distribution makes the math work.
“It saves us at least $50 on groceries per week,” one person told us. Another described a routine many of us would recognize: “I can stop at the food bank first and mark things off my grocery list, then go grocery shopping. So it truly is helpful.”
For some families, the savings go straight to essentials. “I can save for my rent and bills,” one woman shared.
Fresh food means healthier families
When we asked what people look forward to most, the answer was almost unanimous: fresh fruits and vegetables, often the first thing cut from a tight budget.
“The produce at our local grocery stores is through the roof,” one parent told us. “I have to make choices sometimes to go without fresh produce.”
For some, healthy options are a medical necessity: “I’m diabetic and there’s a lot of food here I can eat.”
Support built for mountain-town life
Living in Tahoe is beautiful, and it’s hard. Work comes and goes with the seasons, and costs keep climbing.
“I work seasonally and was very affected by this past winter, so being able to come to food pickup was a huge weight off,” one person told us.
Another family leaned on distribution after an injury: “For a long time my husband couldn’t work because of a work accident, so the food distribution has helped us a lot.”
One veteran put it plainly: “I live on a small VA disability and without the food here I would not be able to pay my bills.”
Kindness is part of the food
Our survey questions focused on food, budgets, and health. But answer after answer mentioned something else entirely: the staff and volunteers.
“I LOVE the staff. I am genuinely excited to go every week.”
“How friendly and nonjudgmental everyone is!”
One response said it in four words: “Just knowing someone cares.”
What it all adds up to: peace of mind
Behind every response was the same quiet relief, the comfort of knowing food will be there.
“Keeps me and my family at peace knowing we will receive ingredients for several meals.”
“We don’t have to worry so much about food anymore.”
“It means I can feed my kid.”
Help keep this going
June is Hunger Awareness Month, and this year the need is growing just as federal support is shrinking. The USDA program that helped us purchase fresh, local food has ended, so community support matters more than ever. Join the 238 Plate Club with a monthly gift, volunteer at a distribution, or donate to help us keep fresh, healthy food on the table every week.
We’ll leave the last word to one of our neighbors, because they said it better than we ever could:
“Many blessings to your generous hearts.”
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