Mar 31, 2025 | Volunteer Spotlight
We value each and every one of our volunteer Crusaders. Without them, SOK couldn’t even hope to fulfill our mission to help end child hunger in Southern Nevada. We know the schools and the kids we serve appreciate them, too. But it’s rare that other people in the community recognize our volunteers for the critical work they do.
On March 13th, Dawn Langdon finished her meal bag deliveries and stopped at Trader Joe’s in Henderson. The cashier noticed Dawn’s uniform and asked about Serving Our Kids.
“Dawn has been a fantastic volunteer for more than two years,” said CEO Laurie Tanakaya. “She’s one of our regular drivers and takes meal bags to several schools each week. She fosters strong partnerships with these schools. She volunteers at our events. Any time we have a need, Dawn jumps in to help.”
As Dawn explained who we are and what we do, she saw the young grocery bagger named Cullen was also listening, and kinda staring at her. When he suddenly turned and walked away, Dawn thought she’d said something that Cullen didn’t like or maybe he had a “difference of opinion.”
Shortly after Dawn left the store, she heard a voice call out, “Wait!” and saw Cullen running to catch up with her. Had she left something at the checkout counter? No. He handed Dawn a bouquet of beautiful flowers and said, “Thank you for doing what you do.”
“I was speechless,” she wrote on social media. “Thank you Cullen for putting a smile on my face and a lil faith in my heart”
“We are so thankful Dawn is an SOK volunteer,” Laurie said. “And so thankful to Cullen for recognizing how special she is.”
Jan 3, 2025 | Awards
Our crusading crew of more than 200 generous, dedicated volunteers has won the 2024 Stars of Nevada – Governor’s Points of Light Award for Non-Profit Volunteer Program of the year. This is Nevada’s highest honor for extraordinary achievement in volunteerism and service.
The awards celebrate individuals and organizations who model the values of service, cooperation and compassion. They recognize volunteers who invest their time and talents in helping Nevada’s youth, seniors, veterans, serving military and first responders.
A panel of 22 judges from various Nevada communities and Nevada Volunteers, the primary resource center for volunteer organizations throughout the state, selected the winners in 10 categories.
“Serving Our Kids relies on our incredible team of volunteers to help create and deliver more than 4,000 weekend meal bags every week,” said SOK CEO Laurie Tanakaya. “They are so deserving of this award, they are true community crusaders.”
Laurie entered SOK in the competition and asked Volunteer Coordinator Fran Sarkett to represent SOK throughout the evaluation process. Fran was interviewed by the nominating committee and prepared a short “walk-up” video about SOK’s mission and volunteer crusaders. She was also nominated for Volunteer Manager of the Year.
“When people volunteer for an organization, they have to show up,” Fran stated. “Our people show up and they bring their friends. That’s the only way we get things done. The only way we can serve 4,000 hungry kids every week. I was thrilled just to learn we were a finalist.”
The awards ceremony, hosted by Caesar’s Entertainment on October 24th at the Paris Hotel and casino Champagne Ballroom, was a true Las Vegas event and a worthy tribute to thousands of volunteers who provide essential services and support in almost every community in Nevada. Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony was on hand to thank the volunteers and organizations for their hard work and dedication.
At the moment of truth, Fran and representatives from the two other finalist programs were led to the stage and waited in silence for the verdict.
“My heart was beating so fast,” Fran recalled. “Then it hit me. Holy cow! We’re first!”
The ballroom erupted in applause led by the cheers and fist pumping from Laurie, SOK Chairwoman Lauri Perdue, Vice Chairman and Treasurer Greg Hogan, and volunteer crusaders Karen Victor, Jackie Hunsaker, Andi Ahart, Andrea Stobierski and Pam Kowell at the SOK table. Fran’s walk-up video played as she stepped to the podium to accept the award.
“I was stunned,” Fran said. “But I remember thinking, just don’t say anything stupid!”
Her short speech was vintage Fran. She thanked SOK, our volunteer supervisors and all of our volunteer meal baggers. Then she instructed the audience to go to servingourkids.org and make a donation to support our 13th Annual Golf Tournament.
“I thought, I’m here, everyone’s paying attention, so I should talk about fundraising,” she said. “Hey, why not create some buzz about the Golf Ball Drop? The audience seemed to appreciate it!
“This is a really big deal,” she continued. “We’re the top non-profit volunteer program in the state. It means a lot to be recognized for doing a good job, but it also gives SOK and our mission a big boost. It generates more community awareness and hopefully more support and involvement.”
Fran believes that’s critical because the problem of food insecurity in Southern Nevada seems to be rapidly growing out of control. Last year, there were 90,000 food-insecure kids in Clark County alone. This year, there are 113,000.
“I can’t imagine how bad it would be if schools didn’t have weekday meal programs and Serving Our Kids didn’t provide weekend meal bags,” Fran said. “If this award helps us feed one more hungry kid for one school year, it’s worth a lot more than an Oscar.”
Jan 3, 2025 | Volunteer Profile
If there was a Mount Rushmore for volunteers, Scott Rice’s face would be chiseled in stone. A Business Systems Analyst with NV Energy, Scott’s workweek is dedicated to developing solutions that improve the efficiency of the utility’s Metering Services and Billing departments. But a big chunk of his free time is dedicated to serving others in his community.
“I’ve been volunteering ever since I was a kid,” Scott recalled. “It was always something I just wanted to do.
“I enlisted in the Navy and traveled the world for 11 years,” he continued. “I got to meet people in developing countries and see how they lived. I saw so many children growing up in the worst conditions. It motivated me to give back my community whenever I could.”
Since then, Scott has donated hundreds of hours to support dozens of community events and charitable causes. He volunteers at his local Irish Club even though he’s officially only one percent Irish. He volunteers as his community’s Easter Bunny. And this confessed “Halloween extremist” even volunteers his home, transforming it into one of Henderson’s most popular haunted houses.
Scott also volunteers with NV Energy. NV Energy, its Foundation and employees contributed more than $5.3 million to support hundreds of nonprofit organizations statewide in 2023. This total is made up of both financial and in-kind donations, including the value of employee volunteer hours and workplace charitable giving.
“NV Energy, its Foundation and employees connect with our community through civic leadership, financial contributions and volunteer service,” said Angel Williams, Director of Community Relations at NV Energy. “Volunteerism is at the heart of what we do and our generous team members like Scott help bring our mission to life throughout Southern Nevada.”
Recently, Scott and his NV Energy co-workers volunteered to pack 10,000 weekend meal bags for Serving Our Kids. SOK’s mission to fight child food insecurity resonates deeply with Scott’s personal commitment to helping children.
“The thought of anyone going hungry, especially a child, is… unthinkable,” he said. “Children need food to develop physically and mentally, and be able to reach their full potential. Adults understand they may have to face hard times, but children shouldn’t have to understand. They shouldn’t have to suffer from hunger.
“Child hunger isn’t just a problem in developing countries,” he added. “It’s a problem right here in our neighborhoods. It’s a problem that may never be solved, but if more people would help, it can get better.
“And it really takes so very little to make a difference,” he said. Just a few dollars means a few more kids can eat this weekend. I can’t afford to donate to every organization that needs help. But I can volunteer my time. That’s how I can help, even in a small way, to make a big difference in somebody’s life.”
Jan 3, 2025 | Partner Profile
Since 1982, Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC) has awarded more than $72 million in grants to support non-profit organizations across America that meet the diverse challenges facing children. From learning disabilities and broken homes to childhood cancer and hunger, SCC works with local charities to help solve problems in their communities and help millions of children build better, brighter, healthier lives.
SCC is the philanthropic arm of Speedway Motorsports Incorporated, which owns 11 world-class race tracks around the country. SCC has local chapters dedicated to serving the communities around eight of these facilities, including the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
For the past five years, the Las Vegas Chapter of SCC has partnered with Serving Our Kids in our crusade to end child hunger in the Las Vegas valley.
“Speedway Children’s Charities provides invaluable support that helps us create weekend meal bags for thousands of hungry kids,” said SOK CEO Laurie Tanakaya. “They truly share our passion for serving children and making a positive impact in our community.”
Paulette Anderson, Director of Speedway Children’s Charities Las Vegas, noted that the chapter’s grants to SOK have steadily increased since the partnership began.
“Everyone here is impressed with how Serving Our Kids is helping food-insecure kids in this community,” Paulette said. “That’s why we’ve supported them over the years.
“The number of food-insecure children in Las Vegas has grown rapidly, especially since the pandemic,” Paulette added. “And now, rising food prices are making it even more difficult for families already struggling to feed their kids.
“Serving Our Kids gives weekend meal bags to 4,000 kids at 95 Clark County schools,” she continued. “So, they can concentrate on learning instead of being hungry. It’s one less thing these children and their parents have to worry about.”
Jan 3, 2025 | Partner Profile
There are more than 113,000 children in Clark County who don’t know when their next meal will be. Imagine what other basic needs they may lack. Serenity Bailey doesn’t have to. Every school day, she helps meet a broad range of life challenges facing more than 700 students at Walter Long Elementary in Las Vegas.
Serenity is a Site Coordinator for Communities In Schools of Nevada (CIS), a non-profit organization dedicated to doing whatever it takes to help students stay in school and succeed in school. CIS believes education can free children from poverty and empower them to reach their full potential.
“I’m a full-time problem solver,” Serenity said. “I’m the point person at Long who provides just about anything students may need. Even if they just need someone to talk to, I’m here for them.
“Many of the kids we help live below the poverty line in small, very expensive extended-stay hotel rooms,” she continued. “Many have large families. Some live with more than one family. And if the rent isn’t paid, they get kicked out.”
Serenity coordinates the delivery of food, clothing and hygiene items, as well as academic, economic and emotional support services – all provided through CIS. She also distributes Serving Our Kids (SOK) weekend meal bags.
“When adults don’t get enough to eat, we get ‘hangry,’” Serenity explained. “We can’t function well until we get a food fix. Imagine how kids feel, being that hungry, but not being able to do anything about it.
“When kids don’t get enough to eat, they start missing school,” she continued. “They won’t pay attention and focus on academics. They have behavior problems.
“If all of that gets better because they’re getting a weekend meal bag, that’s a good thing,” Serenity said. “The students look forward to it. All of them come to school on Friday when the bags arrive. It’s a big motivator.”
Last year, Long Elementary received 35 SOK weekend meal bags each week. This year it’s 80. And Serenity believes the need is even greater.
“I know more than 80 kids need weekend meal bags,” she continued. “But some parents won’t accept them because they don’t want people to know they need assistance. And the kids don’t want their classmates to know.
“But the meal bags are extremely important because that may be the only food those kids get on weekends,” she added. “Some kids don’t wait for the weekend. They start eating before they leave school.”
Serenity believes the Serving Our Kids weekend meal bags enhance many of the nutritional, educational and emotional support services CIS delivers to Long Elementary and elsewhere in Las Vegas valley. And CIS has become an important ally in SOK’s crusade against child hunger.
“I have a great relationship with Serving Our Kids,” she said. “Their volunteer delivery drivers are amazing. We have great conversations. They bring their pets and kids along. There’s a real bond between us because we’re all doing something to help the kids.”
Serenity admits her job can be tough but rewarding.
“I have three kids and three nieces and nephews, and I know they’ll get enough to eat,” she said. “But there are so many students here with so many needs and I wish I just could fix it all.
“But I love what I do,” Serenity said. “I work with a great team and we’re all doing whatever we can to help. And every time I see a kid smile, it’s worth it. It means a lot to them to know somebody cares.”
Oct 7, 2024 | Blog
Right now, there are 113,000 children in Clark County who don’t get enough food to eat every day. This is a staggering 23% increase over last year.
While many kids receive some form of food assistance at school during the week, almost none receive any food assistance on the weekends. That means thousands of food-insecure children leave school on Friday not knowing if they will eat again until Monday.
While many kids receive some food assistance at school during the week, many may not have food assistance on weekends. That means thousands of food-insecure children leave school on Friday not knowing if they will eat again until Monday. And when school is not in session, this problem gets much worse.
Right now, we deliver 4,500 weekend meal bags every week during the school year. But that’s not nearly enough to keep pace with the shocking growth of child hunger in our community.
Our goal is to increase this to more than 7,500 meal bags over the next three years. It will take more hard work and more concerned, generous people like you to help make sure 113,000 kids in Clark County can dream of a brighter future. A future without hunger.
