For the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, decades of support from a longtime hunger partner are taking a new form.
Raley’s Food For Families is marking 40 years of hunger relief and using the anniversary to launch its 2026 Infrastructure Grant Program, aimed at helping food banks improve how they store and distribute food. Applications are open now through February 2.
Since 1986, the nonprofit has donated more than $81 million and 70 million pounds of food to its Feeding America food bank partners. In Nevada, that includes the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, which, like many other food banks, relies on such things as trucks, refrigeration units, forklifts, and other equipment to move food efficiently to people in need.
“For four decades, Food For Families has been privileged to donate millions of pounds of food and to provide support to hungry families across our communities. This milestone is a moment to celebrate that impact and recommit to the long-term work of food security,” said Julie Teel, President of Food For Families Board of Directors. “By focusing on infrastructure, we’re strategically making funds available so these vital community partners can strengthen their ability to get food to those who need it most.”
The new grant cycle builds on a 2025 program that distributed just over $340,000 to support equipment and infrastructure for food banks. That funding included refrigeration units, box trucks, forklifts, pallet jacks, and shelving, tools that food banks say directly increase how many people they can serve.
“These investments directly translate to increased food access for families by allowing food bank staff and volunteers to work more efficiently, ultimately serving more people with the same resources. For example, a single pallet jack can save 76 manual trips per truckload,” Teel said. “The grant funding is a tangible example of the profound commitment Raley’s has made to the communities it serves.”
The 2026 program prioritizes projects that expand food access rather than food education.
Eligible applicants include partner agencies and pantries affiliated with Raley’s Feeding America food bank partners in California and Nevada, including the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.
As part of its 40th anniversary year, Raley’s will also highlight one partner food bank each month in 2026, including those serving Nevada communities.
“We’re honored to mark 40 years of food security leadership and real-world impact,” Teel said. “Raley’s Food For Families has remained committed to its mission to alleviate hunger by providing nutritious food to those in need. The organization’s longevity reflects a deep-rooted belief that food security is foundational to community health and opportunity.”
