The ultimate goal, he said, is to create something that’s real and not just a logo in a brochure that says ‘we support them.’
“If a business came to the food bank before wanting to donate a thousand dollars, we probably would have just cashed the check, said thank you and hoped they might do it again to help meet the needs of hungry people,” said Hamilton. “But now we’re finding an unusual level of desire on the part of business owners and employees to really bring their team something that is much more meaningful; something that really is an expression of who they are or who they want to be, with regard to being better citizens in our county. And I think they mean it, I really do.”
Though the entry requirements have yet to be ironed out, Hamilton said the Business Alliance program is already drawing interest from the business community. The food bank recently met (or is planning to meet with) Heritage Bank, Ryonet, Stein Distributing and Tetra Pak.
Hamilton noted that the program will be custom designed on a company by company basis so that employers can get exactly what they want out of the relationship. The food bank is also working on a new website to help interested businesses learn more. In the meantime, he said, inquiries can go to hunger.alliance@clarkcountyfoodbank.org.
“There’s a theme of philanthropy in Clark County that is not easily matched, yet I still think people want to connect with the places they support,” Hamilton added. “There are some that just want to be at a distance, but many want more than that. They want a level of relationship with the organization or the end-users
those organizations serve. We are well positioned to provide that.”
