Reno, Nev. (April 14, 2025) – As the largest food pantry in northern Nevada, the St. Vincent’s Food Pantry at Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada has pioneered a food rescue and recovery program that has become a model for sister organizations nationwide. In honor of Earth Day, St. Vincent’s celebrates a program that provides nearly $5 million worth of donated food and beverages annually, reducing food waste while fighting hunger in the community.
Established in 1995, St. Vincent’s Food Pantry is the largest food distribution pantry in Nevada. Each year, it provides more than 300,000 food boxes to families in need, ensuring access to nutritious meals for the community’s most vulnerable populations. As the need has grown, the Pantry’s director has developed an innovative initiative to meet the demand.
Carlos Carillo, director of the St. Vincent’s Food Pantry, has been the driving force behind the food rescue and recovery initiative. While he considers his approach an “old-fashioned way of doing business”—fostering direct relationships and mastering logistics—his work is setting the standard for food recovery efforts across the country. Carillo has attended national conferences, training counterparts who are now replicating his model in their own communities, further expanding the reach and impact of food rescue efforts.
The program started eight years ago when Carillo approached a local grocer about donating surplus food. What began as a small partnership has now expanded to include more than 32 vendors, including grocery stores, restaurants, local farmers and ranchers and wholesale food distributors. These partners donate a variety of food that is still safe to consume but may have timed out due to weather, slight damage, refusal or slow sales. For instance, if one can in a case is damaged, the entire case is donated instead of being discarded. The non-perishable items are prepared for distribution.
“This program has had a profound impact on both our bottom line and our ability to serve the needs of our community,” said Marie Baxter, CEO of Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada. “By rescuing food that would otherwise go to waste, we’re able to provide fresh, nutritious meals to thousands of families in need while significantly reducing our food purchasing costs. This initiative not only sustains our operations but also strengthens our ability to meet the growing demand for food assistance in our region.”
Carillo and his team have become experts in logistics, ensuring that donations are quickly transported, stored, and distributed efficiently.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Vincent’s Food Pantry adapted through a variety of initiatives that fostered long-term partnerships and introduced a new, more dignified model of food distribution to the area. These efforts have since evolved into Neighborhood Resource Centers and Client Choice Pantries, where food is selected by the client based on individual preferences and needs. Fresh produce, meats, dairy, and breads from local pick-ups are delivered directly to the nearest Client Choice Pantry, ensuring same-day distribution. Ethnic foods are directed to locations serving diverse populations to better meet cultural dietary favorites.
“We do the shopping for you,” Carillo says, emphasizing the pantry’s commitment to providing nutritious food in a dignified manner. “Our experience tells us where items go best to meet the needs of our clients.”
In addition to providing food for individuals and families, the large quantity restaurant packaged food donations that aren’t packaged appropriately for a family of six are used by the St. Vincent’s Dining Room. The Dining Room, which serves 1,500 people daily at its facility and the Cares Campus, operates as a Client Choice Pantry for the chefs who incorporate available donated products into meals. Wholesale vendors such as SK Foods contribute large quantities, donating approximately 20,000 pounds of meat and cheese per month, making it easier for the Dining Room to plan a menu around these items.
St. Vincent’s has also built strong partnerships with local restaurants, which donate time-sensitive items such as pre-made sandwiches, pastries and breads, and pizzas. These donations are picked up daily and refrigerated for next-day distribution either in the Client Choice Pantries or the Dining Room.
In 2024, the St. Vincent’s Food Pantry’s Food Rescue & Recovery Program has made a significant impact by distributing 2.5 million pounds of donated food and drinks. With a State of Nevada assessed value of $1.97 per pound, these donations amount to nearly $5 million in recovered food, ensuring that nutritious meals reach those in need while reducing food waste across the region.
In alignment with its commitment to sustainability, when produce is no longer fit for consumption, St. Vincent’s donates the spoiled products to organizations such as Urban Roots for composting creating community collaboration and synergy.
Looking Ahead: Future Needs
While St. Vincent’s Food Pantry is grateful for its current donated freezer space, the program’s continued expansion has made additional storage capacity a pressing need. Increased freezer space would allow the pantry to accept and preserve more donations, particularly perishable items with a shelf life of up to six months. This expansion would further enhance the program’s ability to reduce food waste and provide consistent, high-quality food to those in need.
For more information about Catholic Charities or the St. Vincent’s Food Pantry, including donation and volunteer opportunities, please visit ccsnn.org
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Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada, established in 1941, Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada (CCNN) is a Nevada-based, 501(c) (3) tax-exempt, non-profit corporation operating human service programs including: St. Vincent’s Dining Room, St. Vincent’s Food Pantry, St. Marguerite’s Support Services, Battle Born Housing Plus, Immigration Legal Services and others. CCNN is committed to providing help and creating hope in our community. From infants to seniors, CCNN assists approximately 40,000 people per month in northern Nevada.
Contact: Tiffany East
775.250.8092
