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Over 1,000 people attend annual feast.
by Carole Miller –
Despite sub-freezing temperatures, hundreds of area residentsfrom lonely seniors to young families and men sleeping on the streetslined up outside the Reno Events Center, anticipating a hearty meal at the recent Feed the Hungry Feast in Reno, Nev.
The Salvation Army and the Safari Club International Foundation’s Sportsmen Against HungerTM program (SAH) invited the community to enjoy an elk and buffalo meal at the sixth annual feast. The dinner is held each year on the eve of the annual Hunters Convention at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
Steve Rilenge, SAH chair and president of the Central Indiana Chapter of Safari Club International said, “Returning to Reno in partnership with The Salvation Army and the other great sponsors to help feed the hungry at the Reno Events Center is truly one of the highlights of the year.”
Over 160 volunteers served approximately 1,100 meals during this year’s event, up from last year’s 900. For the first time, organizers actually ran out of food before the dinner was scheduled to end. Luckily, everyone who came to eat did get served.
Each year SAH donates wild game meat to The Salvation Army400 pounds of ground elk and buffalo this year.
Eldorado Hotel Executive Chef Michael Norton transformed the game and other food donations into a meal of meatloaf plus mashed potatoes and gravy, a vegetable, salad, dessert and beverages. Members of the High Sierra Chefs Association and Job Corps students assisted Norton. Other sponsors included the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, C & M Food Distributing, Model Dairy, SportService, Truckee Sourdough Company and the Carson Valley Inn. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Department provided additional security.
“We are very pleased to be able to offer the community a hot, nutritious meal during this cold weather,” said Major Doug Williams, corps officer of The Salvation Army in Reno. “Our partnership with the Sportsmen Against Hunger program and all of the other sponsors works well and we’re grateful for their support.”
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