Construction is officially underway on a new project for the Children’s Cabinet and Food Bank of Northern Nevada, which they are calling the Oddie Project.
Leaders of this project told us the motivation for it is to provide families in the community a place to access many resources all under the same roof.
They say they'll have an early learning center for kids zero through five, and their parents will also get food access to reduce unnecessary barriers.
Kim Young, the Chief Executive Officer of The Children's Cabinet, told us, "We will have access to case management, a market pantry, workforce training programs, a production kitchen, and job support, so an array of services and supports that help people get to a place where they can thrive together, whether they're an individual or a family."
Leaders of the Oddie Project said they're working to create a place families can go and receive help in various ways.
They call this 70,000-square-foot project a representation of what great partnerships can create.
Nicole Lamboley, the President & CEO of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, said, "We will continue to provide services where we have expertise in food and nutrition, and the Cabinet will do the same with the multitude of programs that they provide. The Boys and Girls Club will operate the Early Learning Center. Community Health Alliance, which is already located just down at the other end of the building, will continue to provide health-related services and support."
The Oddie Project will take about 18 months to complete and will be located in Sparks, off Sullivan Lane and Oddie Blvd.
The vision for this project started from a conversation post-pandemic, and seeing resources go away or funding lost.
The partners say it shows the community’s need for a place like this.
Lamboley told us, "A year from now, we were standing in this parking lot because there was a lapse in SNAP benefits, and the food bank did a pop-up food distribution to help those neighbors who unexpectedly lost their SNAP benefits. That's the type of site that will be responding to the needs when the needs arise."
