79 Local Families Receive Thanksgiving

Nearly 80 Churchill County families will have full Thanksgiving dinners this year thanks to a community-led food drive organized by local resident Sarah Lavy and supported by volunteers, churches, and service organizations.

The distribution took place Saturday, Nov. 22, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Richards Street, where volunteers handed out 79 completed Thanksgiving food boxes. Each box included a turkey and the traditional sides. Any unclaimed boxes at the end of the distribution period were to be delivered to Pastor Dawn at Fallon Daily Bread to support its food pantry and community meal.

This year’s effort expanded significantly from Lavy’s earlier work. She began coordinating Thanksgiving boxes last year out of her home after running the annual Fallon Cares Community Coat Drive. Increased need and strong public response prompted a larger operation in 2024.

“I put out a post asking if people wanted to sponsor a family or donate food, and it grew quickly,” Lavy said during the distribution. “Once the church offered the facilities, we were able to help far more families.”

Families were referred through three main channels: nominations submitted online, families who participated in the coat drive, and additional referrals that came in after word of the project spread. In total, approximately 40 families were nominated through the online form, 25 came from the coat drive, and several more contacted Lavy directly after hearing about the effort.

The LDS congregation provided space and volunteers for packing and distribution. Members of the Fallon Lions Club also participated, assembling ten large boxes for families of six.

In addition to the Thanksgiving drive, Lavy and her volunteers are already preparing for their next project, a Christmas gift program for local teenagers. Thirty teens, ages 13 to 18, have been nominated by teachers, family members, or community members. Each teen has been matched with one or more sponsors who will provide both requested items, often basic necessities such as socks or hygiene products, and additional gifts tailored to their interests.

Local churches and community groups have also contributed to that project, with additional sponsors standing by should more teens be identified.

Lavy said the goal of both efforts is to match community members who want to help with those who need support. “Fallon steps up when people know what the need is,” she said.

Both the Thanksgiving and Christmas projects will continue annually, Lavy said, with organizers planning to expand or adjust based on community need.

For more information or to assist with future projects, community members may contact Lavy directly through social media or watch for public postings seeking sponsors or donations.