Tests, homework, activities, friends, fitting in — high school is tough enough without worrying about how you’ll get school supplies, where your next meal will come from or even where you’ll sleep that night. With more than 3,000 high school students in Clark County, Nevada facing that harsh reality every day, something had to be done.
What is Project 150?
Founded in 2011, Project 150 is a nonprofit focused on helping homeless high school youth in the Las Vegas area. Their mission is to offer support and services to these students so they have what they need to continue school and be successful in life.
What started as a small project to help 150 homeless high school students at a single high school over Christmas break has grown into an organization that assists more than 3,300 registered homeless high school students plus another 3,100 displaced and disadvantaged high school students in 56 schools in Clark County and 20 in Northern Nevada.
Through food and school supply drives, clothing collections (including formal wear for prom), housing assistance and scholarships, Project 150 is able to help students stop worrying about basic needs and turn their focus toward a crucial goal: getting their high school diplomas.
According to Project 150 Executive Director Meli Pulido, the Project 150 Youth Council has awarded $82,500 in college scholarships to 33 recipients so far in 2017. In 2016, just over 1.3 million dollars was delivered in services to high school students.
How Vitacost works with Project 150
Even with advanced inventory planning systems and processes in place, predicting customer behavior and product trends isn’t 100% precise. So when there’s leftover inventory, what does Vitacost do?
Back in 2013, managers at our Las Vegas fulfillment center were faced with that question. John McClain, Inbound Operations Manager, had heard about Project 150 and suggested a partnership. Both parties agreed it was a good fit, and they’ve never looked back.
Every month, the truck arrives and Vitacost fills it with 4-6 pallets of donated, non-perishable products (an estimated 350 lbs.), including food, personal care products and other items. And if there’s anything Project 150 can’t use themselves, they re-allocate it to another charity with a specific need.
“We are proud to work with Project 150 and our community to serve these high school students and their families with our charitable donations,” said McClain.
As an approved agency of Three Square Food Bank, Project 150 is part of the larger Feeding America distribution network, a nationwide organization of which Vitacost parent company Kroger is a founding partner and top contributor.
How you can help Project 150
Like all nonprofit organizations, Project 150 is fueled by the time, effort and donations of community partners and volunteers. If you are in the Las Vegas area, consider donating items directly to Project 150 by dropping off school supplies, personal hygiene products, clothing, food and public transportation passes. No matter where you’re located, you can also donate money to Project 150 to help further their cause. A $25 donation can feed a family of four through their Holiday Meal Box program.
