As the smoke clears from what was once the warehouse for the nonprofit called Neighbors Nourishing Neighbors, it is evident that the building used to feed hundreds of families, is now destroyed beyond use.
Neighbors Nourishing Neighbors is a nonprofit organization that helps feed those in need. Right now, there is a temporary pantry set up to still continue with the mission of this organization. N3 is in need of money and fundraising as rebuilding will be a long and expensive process, and they will host the annual Hot Dogs and Hot Rods event at Town Hall on April 12th.
“What we do is that we serve from the heart, and we serve about 5,00 people each month,” The CEO of Neighbors Nourishing Neighbors, Robert Daleo, said. “We are their primary source of nutrition. Not being able to feed those people was devastating. How would we get these families food?”
As news of the fire spread, The pastor, Jason, at the United Methodists church made an announcement about the event.
“My immediate reaction was, ‘How did this happen?’ It was such a surreal moment, and hearing about something so devastating really hit hard,” student volunteer for N3 and member of the youth council for the United Methodist church, Emma Hirsch said. “The sadness of the situation sank in as I thought about the impact it must have had on the people affected.”
Neighbors Nourishing Neighbors is a choice pantry, where families in need can come and shop for food for free. Daleo said It gives a sense of dignity to those families, and those who volunteer are able to learn valuable things.
“You can’t teach the humility you learn through these experiences, it is something you need to see for yourself,” Daleo said. “Once you understand that you have humbled yourself because now things you have taken for granted you have never thought about before.”
The community started supporting the organization very quickly after the fire. Local churches and businesses gathered together to support this beloved organization.
“The response was immediate,” Daleo said. “I did not know or appreciate how tight a community we have, and the support that our community offers the food pantry because of the services we provide.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints helped this organization.The president of the church, Brian Perkes, shipped 24 pallets—over 1,300 boxes—of food from salt lake city. They helped host a food drive as well, partnering with Children’s World Hunger Fund, and other nonprofits to help provide food assistance.
(Jennifer Stice)
“Our church has had a long-standing relationship with N3, and we were heartbroken to hear about the fire,” the Communications Director for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Jennifer Stice, said. “We felt for our friends at N3, who work tirelessly to provide this vital service to our community, and we were especially concerned for the 300 families who rely on their food assistance each week.”
This event not only impacted the families the organization serves, but also impacted those working to help N3 regroup.
“This experience was a powerful reminder of the generosity and unity within the Prosper community,” Stice said. “When people unite with a shared purpose, barriers are broken, strengths are amplified, and meaningful change happens.”
Members of the community have also done things to support this organization.
“My family and I continue to help by donating food as much as we can, knowing how important it is to support N3 during their recovery,” Hirsch said. “Every contribution, no matter how small, helps them get back on their feet and continue providing for those in need.”
Daleo tries to see this event as a way to continue with the growth of Neighbors Nourishing neighbors as they were starting to look for other locations because their old location was too small.
“We know God works in mysterious ways, and this fire was a wake-up call to us to get on with the expansion to feed the hungry,” Daleo said. “There will be a new look and feel to the organization and we are really looking forward to a rebirth, and we will be like a phoenix rising from the ashes.”
