delivering with dignity blau with girl scouts

Nonprofit of the Month: Delivering with Dignity

Delivering with Dignity was born during the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 as a way of providing fresh, chef-prepared meals to Las Vegas locals in need. Entrepreneur Elizabeth Blau, who is behind adored Las Vegas restaurants such as Honey Salt and Buddy V’s and co-founder of Delivering with Dignity, discusses how the nonprofit started and ways readers can get involved.

What is the mission of Delivering with Dignity? Delivering with Dignity was launched on March 23, 2020, as an emergency response to the healthcare and economic crisis created by the novel coronavirus and has grown exponentially in its effort to help the most vulnerable and isolated individuals in Southern Nevada. Through partnerships with locally owned restaurants, leading nonprofit agencies, and Clark County, the program delivers meals directly to the doorsteps of residents, keeps dozens of restaurant staff employed.

Elizabeth Blau

What prompted the start of the nonprofit? After Las Vegas shutdown due to the pandemic, none of the normal channels of distributing food were able to be followed. We had a real problem and had to move quickly to find a solution. We sat down at my kitchen table with Julie Murray and Punam Mathur, two extraordinary community leaders and with some help from some strategic partners we developed this novel system to launch Delivering with Dignity. Within two weeks of that kitchen meeting, we delivered our first meals.

What is the greatest reward in being involved with the nonprofit? As a restaurateur, it’s always our goal to serve meals that exceed our customers’ expectations. To have a career based on creating these delectable meals it is critical to balance that with the knowledge that there are members of our local community facing tremendous food insecurity. It has been so wonderful to see all these community members receiving meals from our partner restaurants, Graffiti Bao, Valencian Gold, The Jolt Coffee Co and Honey Salt that are not only well-balanced and nutritious, but always bring a little sunshine in what started as a very dark time.

delivering with dignity las vegas

What is the biggest challenge the nonprofit faces? When we first started, most of our community was homebound due to the pandemic so gathering volunteer drivers, or as we call them, Food Heroes was the easy part. We had an abundance of people looking to get out and help the community which was wonderful. Now that most of the working force has gone back to normal, finding those volunteers has been a little more challenging. But we have had some amazing school and corporate groups volunteer their time as well!

What are your goals for 2023? To keep going! As long as our community needs meals, it is a goal to provide them.

How can readers help? Readers can find opportunities to help with the below:

Volunteer: Spend two hours of your day delivering meals to those most in need. We also love having groups of people volunteer. You’re your colleagues, family and friends to join you! Please e-mail our Volunteer Coordinator Ashlen at ashlen@moonridgefoundation.org to sign up!

Donate: Help someone in need with as little as $9. A $9 donation will provide a vulnerable client with a fresh, delicious, and nutritious meal made by a chef in one of our participating restaurants. Click here to make a donation.

Spread the Word: Please continue to share our need for volunteer drivers on social media @deliveringwithdignity and amongst your inner circles. By sharing your positive experience with Delivering with Dignity, others will be encouraged to join us in making a difference.

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