Alejandro brings nutritious meals and smiles to kids across Las Vegas

Under the sweltering heat of a typical summer day in Las Vegas, Nevada, where temperatures can reach triple digits, Alejandro Rios fearlessly loads his van with meals for kids in various communities as part of Three Square Food Bank's "Meet Up and Eat Up" program.

In addition to its regular mission of providing food to children who rely on free and reduced-price lunch during the school year, Three Square Food Bank extends its efforts into the summer through this unique initiative. What sets "Meet Up and Eat Up" apart is its approach: instead of requiring kids to visit a designated location, the program sends drivers like Alejandro to them.

"We take the food to apartment complexes or mobile home communities—instead of a site that kids come to, we go to the kids," Alejandro explains.

Alejandro’s work takes him across Las Vegas, delivering nutritious meals to children aged 18 years or younger at parks, recreation centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, libraries, day camps, and apartment complexes.

Having served as a driver for the program for the past two summers, Alejandro has grown passionate about his work and the children he serves. He highlights the remarkable resilience he witnesses in the kids and the diversity of the communities he visits.

"The kids that we serve are very representative of the city. They're diverse and come from different groups of people," Alejandro says with a smile.

Touched by the strength and determination he observes, Alejandro notes, "Sometimes, you can tell they are having a difficult time at home, but they always greet us with a smile. They remember my name, always say hi, and make me feel like I'm one of their friends."

Indeed, his impact is clear as kids flock around Alejandro and his mobile van at every site.