NEW YORK — The Specialty Food Association (SFA) Winter Fancy Food Show ran from February 6-8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and featured more than 800 companies from around the world showcasing thousands of products. On the final day, exhibitors donated their surplus specialty food to Three Square Food Bank, Southern Nevada’s only food bank, and largest hunger relief organization, serving four counties–Clark, Lincoln, Esmeralda and Nye, and F.R.E.E. International, an anti-human trafficking organization.
“The Specialty Food Association traditionally ends its Fancy Food Shows with food rescue,” said Jennifer Carney, Director, Tradeshow Operations, for the SFA. “Our members were happy to partner with Las Vegas organizations working hard to support people in their community.”
Both organizations received donations of specialty foods and beverage products, which included meat, cheese, plant-based, confections, snacks, and more. Three Square received a total of 8,573 pounds of food which equates to approximately 7,144 meals, with F.R.E.E. International receiving perishables weighing in over 12,000 pounds.
“Nearly 364,000 Southern Nevadans are food-insecure, that’s one in six people who don’t know where their next meal is coming from,” said Three Square Food Bank President and CEO Brian Burton. “Thanks to the generous donation provided by the SFA Winter Fancy Food Show, we’re able to distribute additional meals to those in need right here in our community. It’s partners like SFA that continue to drive us, fueling our fight against hunger and pursuit of a hunger-free community.”
“On behalf of F.R.E.E. International, we are so grateful to The Specialty Food Association’s Winter Fancy Food Show for providing us with such a generous donation of perishable foods. F.R.E.E. International works to Find Restore Embrace and Empower families in the Las Vegas valley through a variety of outreach, training, services and care to reduce human trafficking and exploitation, and we couldn’t be more appreciative of this incredibly bountiful donation,” said Aaron Hansel, Free International Las Vegas, 1000 Men for Freedom Director. “It’s truly an honor to be a recipient of these much-needed products, and they will be distributed immediately to the deserving individuals, families and partnering organizations that serve our community.”
The Summer Fancy Food Show, which will also have a food rescue component, will take place June 12-14 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. For more information, click here.
About the Specialty Food Association
The Specialty Food Association (SFA) has been the leading trade association and source of information about the $170.4 billion specialty food industry for 70 years. Founded in 1952 in New York City, the SFA represents manufacturers, importers, retailers, distributors, brokers, and others in the trade. The SFA is known for its Fancy Food Shows; the sofi™ Awards, which have honored excellence in specialty food and beverage for 50 years; the Trendspotter Panel Show reports and annual predictions; the State of the Specialty Food Industry Report and Today’s Specialty Food Consumer research; the ecommerce enabled SFA Product Marketplace, where members showcase products and sell directly to qualified buyers; SFA Feed, the daily source for industry news, trends and new product information, and Spill & Dish: A Specialty Food Association Podcast.
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About Three Square
Three Square is Southern Nevada’s only food bank and largest hunger relief organization, serving Las Vegas and all of Clark, Lincoln, Esmeralda and Nye counties. Since opening in 2007, Three Square has provided more than 444 million pounds of food to hundreds of thousands of people in need and earned a reputation as one of the most efficient and effective food banks in the country. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Three Square immediately implemented a disaster response plan to answer sudden school and business closures, drastic declines in retail food donations, social distancing limitations on volunteer efforts, reduced on-site staff support, and the need for low-contact food distributions. Within days, Three Square had increased food distribution by 250,000 meals a week and increased the capacity of its Call Center to refer Southern Nevadans to available food resources, social services, and unemployment benefits. A member of the Feeding America network of food banks, Three Square remains committed to its mission of providing wholesome food to hungry people, while passionately pursuing a hunger-free community. If you or someone you know needs food assistance, or wants to learn more about Three Square’s vision of a community where no one is hungry, please connect at threesquare.org, Facebook (@ThreeSquareFoodBank), Instagram (@threesquarelv) and Twitter (@threesquarelv).
About the F.R.E.E. International
F.R.E.E. International is a Las Vegas based anti-human trafficking organization dedicated to Finding, Restoring, Embracing and Empowering (F.R.E.E.) communities, families and those who have been affected by human trafficking. F.R.E.E.’s national partnerships include law enforcement, government, local and national NGO’s. F.R.E.E. International also includes training, education, and awareness programs such as empowerment summits and school assembly programs for adults and children. F.R.E.E. is a 501 c 3 organization. For more information visit www.freeinternational.org.
