By Misti McDonald
Moapa Valley Progress
Members of many local families gathered early on Saturday morning at two local churches to pick up their first shipment of “Treasure Box” groceries. The New Hope Christian Center in Overton and the Moapa Christian Church on the Moapa Indian Reservation are now working in partnership with “The Treasure Box”, an organization which works to provide families with affordable food. The two churches have agreed to be monthly distribution sites for the program.
Saturday was the first Treasure Box distribution dates for the southern Nevada region. The organization distributed boxes to about 200 families throughout the region, 50 of those were distributed at the two local sites.
“We had a very good first month,” said Treasure Box official Carlos Sayan. “The word really got out about the program and there were a lot of orders.”
The Treasure Box partners with more than 500 major food manufacturers across the country to purchase and provide top quality food at volume discounts to the general public. The food comes in a pre-assembled box weighing 21-25 lbs and including an estimated $60-85 worth of grocery store-quality food. But because of volume discounts, the cost to Treasure Box customers is only $32 per box.
Families interested in receiving the food can pre-order online. Then they simply pick up their food at their nearest distribution location.
“People are always amazed at how much food they are getting in these boxes,” said Sayan. “It seems like it is too good to be true and they have to see it to believe it.”
Leaders of the local churches were also pleased with the program.
“We’re pretty excited about it!” said Pastor Russ Goodrum of New Hope Christian Center. “We want to help people during this time of economic crisis but we also want to protect their dignity.”
“I think that it is a wonderful thing to provide for the community,” said Pastor Anita Lang of Moapa Christian Church. “I’ve already heard feedback from some of our participants and they have been very pleased with the quality of the food that they received.”
The distribution sites don’t make any money from partnering with the program. “Our community partners are just organizations that have an interest in helping in their communities,” said Sayan.
The next Treasure Box distribution date will be on Saturday, March 26. Preorders for that date must be made by March 15. Orders may be made at www.TheTreasureBox.org. Or contact the distribution site directly to place orders. Lower valley residents can call Pastor Russ Goodrum at 398-8866. Moapa residents may call Pastor Anita Lang at 702-353-9299.
