A new Las Vegas food bank is catering to individuals who may be living with food sensitivities, food allergies, or specialty diets.
The new food bank, called LasVegan Food Bank has become increasingly more popular over the last couple of weeks since it opened as those with dietary restrictions have become aware of the option.
Merideth Spriggs, a local resident, told 8 News Now that she lives with severe allergies to gluten, dairy, and soy. When Spriggs was homeless, she said that the problem was "unbearable" because she relied on others for food.
Spriggs said, "There was just so much that I couldn't eat all the time. Things that people don't think about, there are people in the homeless population that have food sensitivities."
LasVegan Food Bank is hoping to combat those problems by donating meals to individuals who are vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free.
The food bank's founder, Mindy, told 8 News Now, "The goal is to help people. We're trying to feed people."
She and her team hands out boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, and other safe items for those with specialty diets. Mindy said, "That there is so much demand for vegan food boxes, I was really surprised. And now I'm like we need to ramp it up, we need to do more."
LasVegan Food Banks holds donation box pickups ever other Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. Visit the bank's Facebook page for more information on how to donate or volunteer.
The food bank also partners with Ranch Island Rescue, an organization that rescues animals and teaching people how to live a cruelty-free lifestyle.
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