Three Square Non-Profit Organization Provides Volunteer Opportunities for Nellis Airmen Published Feb. 14, 2012 By Capt. Leticia Venegas 99 Air Base Wing NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Airmen take on new volunteer opportunities regularly in an effort to better their community. Volunteer options have a large range and reach. One familiar volunteer group for Airmen here is the Three Square food bank. Last year the Nellis Company Grade Officer Council (CGOC) reiterated its commitment to community service by participating in the Three Square food bank's BackPack for Kids program in Las Vegas, NV. The program provides nutritious, single-serving and ready-to-eat food items to children who might otherwise go without enough food during weekends and long breaks from school. BackPack for Kids and its counterparts, the Kids Café program and the Summer Food Service Program are just some of the avenues in which Three Square offers help to the community. Every Three Square function accepts contributions of food, funds and time. On January 17, 2011, during the BackPack for Kids program fifteen CGOs worked for two hours in the Three Square South campus warehouse helping assemble 1,764 bags of kid-friendly, non-perishable food, which will be distributed among school children in Southern Nevada. The Three Square food bank is a nonprofit group which gives out more than 7,200 bags weekly to more than 240 schools throughout the community, free of charge. According to Three Square, approximately 50% of children in the Clark County School District are enrolled in free and reduced-price meal programs based on their family income. The BackPack for Kids program provides a bag of food to go home with these children in need each Friday, allowing them to have food for the weekend. "Our work to end hunger is overwhelming at times. However, when wonderful community leaders like Nellis CGOC make time to care and contribute, it gives us great confidence that we can accomplish our goal of eradicating hunger," stated Katy Ocampo, a Three Square volunteer coordinator. Volunteer opportunities for Three Square are almost always available for Airmen willing to donate time, money or food to help complete Three Square's mission of providing wholesome foods to hungry people, while passionately pursuing a hunger-free community. The Kids Café and Summer Food Service Programs also prepare boxes and distribute over 10,000 nutritious meals a week for children in after-school enrichment programs and during summer months when they are not in school. Nellis CGOC previously volunteered in August 2011 in Three Square community kitchen, helping assemble 1,800 lunches for underprivileged school children. Capt. Megan Martin, CGOC president, said, "It's not about our image. It's really about making a difference, recognizing the needs in our community and figuring out ways to give back reinforcing ties to our local community. That is part of the Air Force culture from the top down." For volunteer, donation and more information about Three Square please visit their website at http://www.threesquare.org/ officers who would like to participate in future community service opportunities should contact Capt. Laura Mead, Nellis CGOC community service director, at 702-653-4636.
