A Nevada mining company is donating 6,300 pounds of beef to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, supplementing the food many of you brought in during our 22nd annual "Share Your Christmas" Drive-By Food Drive. The food bank is one of nine organizations to receive ground beef and roast beef from Barrick Gold Corporation, around the state. In total, the company is donating 20,000 pounds of beef, valued at $95,000.
"We do lots of great things, all year long, but this is really special," Be-Be Adams, Barrick Manager of Community Relations and Government Affairs said. "It didn't come from the group that's supposed to be thinking about this stuff. It came from the ranchers and the employees."
Barrick owns 400,000 acres of northern Nevada ranch land, with 21 employees managing 1,500 cattle. Some of those cattle are being used for the donations.
"We're usually asking for peanut butter and tuna and soup and stews for protein," Jocelyn Lantrip, Director of Marketing for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada said. "So, this is a pretty great donation."
Volunteers are also sorting nearly 250,000 pounds of food, donated in Friday's food drive. The food was collected in Reno, Carson City, and Minden, breaking a record by 50,000 pounds. The food, along with Barrick's beef donation will be distributed to multiple agencies like shelters and food pantries.
"For us to be able to do this and give it to people who really need it and don't get it often, oh my gosh," Adams said. "Can you think of a better thing to do around Christmas? I can't."
 Friday's food donations will last through February. Volunteers are needed to help sort the food, which could take a few weeks.
