When people think of the annual Fashion for Three Square event, they think of Diana Bennett opening her lovely home (and her checkbook); they think of Neiman Marcus teaming with a designer to produce a fashion presentation; they think of Elizabeth Blau coordinating a stable of chefs; and they think of how exquisite everything looks, thanks to David Steen.  And some even think about the beneficiary of the evening, Three Square Food Bank’s BackPack for Kids program.

But what few people think of is the work that goes into filling those bags.  So, leading by example, as she is wont to do, Bennett hosted a kick-off event, comprised of a morning of volunteering, followed by a delicious (and nutritious) luncheon, at Three Square’s expansive North Las Vegas facility.

Itself but one of a number of programs that fall under the umbrella of Three Square’s childhood nutrition programs, the BackPack for Kids program provides bags of nutritious, single-serving, and ready-to-eat food items, every Friday during the school-year, to at-risk students, who face going without, over weekends and long breaks. 

With more than 62% of the students in the Clark County School District participating in the “free and reduced price meals” program, this is a very big deal.  But what this figure fails to take into account, is that from the time school lets-out on Fridays, until they return on Monday morning, many of these children do not eat.

Nearly a million meals were distributed through BackPack for Kids during the last school year; and while that is an incredible figure, it’s still not enough.

One of the aspects of the program that I find most endearing is that the teachers, knowing which students are in the program, wait until the kids are out of the classroom (at recess, for instance), and then put the bags of food into the backpacks of the students for which they are intended.  This way, no unwanted attention is brought to the student, allowing them to receive this much needed food, while maintaining their dignity – which to a school-aged child, can be paramount.

Of course, this morning of volunteering was a prelude to this year’s Fashion for Three Square event, on Thursday, May 11th.  This year, Neiman Marcus will be bringing talented Los Angeles designer, Monique Lhuillier to Bennett’s home, where – amid a sea of savory victuals – donors and guests will eat, drink, and be merry; all for a wonderful program produced by this incredible organization.

Childhood Nutrition programs
Three Square
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