Sierra Pacific is one of the leaders in a joint effort by government and the private sector to enhance existing food preparation and delivery services to those in need of food assistance in the Reno/Sparks area.

The Truckee Meadows Food Partnership (TMFP) is a consortium led by The Food Bank of Northern Nevada and the Washoe County School District Nutrition Services, along with other local government agencies and businesses.

The objective of the Truckee Meadows Food Partnership is to provide nutritious meals for those who might otherwise do without, including children and seniors. "This program enhances those programs already in place and takes advantage of some rather unique resources existing in the Truckee Meadows," said Susan Frisch, Nutrition Services director.

Frisch indicated that prepared food resources may soon become available for use in non-profit feeding programs. Thus far, Boomtown Hotel Casino has stepped forward to donate food items on a regular basis, to be processed using the school district's new "cook-chill" equipment.

Under the program, surplus food is picked up regularly from Boomtown's food service facilities and taken to the Washoe County School District Central Kitchen. There it's processed and packaged to ensure safety, and delivered to non-profit meal programs through the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.

"Not only do will the Food Partnership improve the efficiency and effectiveness of such food delivery services, we're also convinced we can do it on a more cost-effective basis," said Cherie Jamason, chief executive officer of The Food Bank of Northern Nevada.

In addition to Sierra Pacific, joining the Food Partnership are Nevada Bell, Wells Fargo Bank, Norwest Bank and the Hawkins Foundation, all of which contributed "seed" money to the program. Still others donated services, including the Reno Parks and Recreation Department, which provides office space for the TMFP project manager.