January Highlights
As we focus on our pillars this year—FEED, READ, and LEAD—we’re kicking things off bigger and better than ever! FeedTahoe continues to make a significant impact in the fight against food insecurity, thanks to the support of our dedicated volunteers, generous food donors, and nonprofit partners. Our new ReadingPals program at Tahoe Valley is already helping kids strengthen their literacy skills through one-on-one reading sessions, and Imagination Library continues to grow, providing free books each month to children and fostering a love of reading.
We also wrapped up accepting applications for the Fannan Fellowship and funded 83 college applications through the College Application Payment Program (CAPP), supporting students on their journey to higher education.
We’re so grateful for this amazing community and all the progress we’ve made together. January set the tone for an exciting year ahead, and we can’t wait to share everything we have planned for 2025!
FeedTahoe Update: Expanding Our Impact
This month, FeedTahoe completed 50 food rescues, working with 11 generous donors and 8 nonprofit organizations to deliver nutritious food to those in need. Thanks to the dedication of 13 volunteers, we continue to fight food insecurity and strengthen our community.
We’re thrilled to welcome three new food donors to our network:
Beach Hut Deli
Zephyr Point Conference
Cuppa
Additionally, we’ve expanded our recipient partnerships to include:
Tahoe Senior Plaza
Kelly Ridge
Tahoe Youth & Family
Since launching our food rescue program, we have completed 151 rescues, partnered with 16 food donors, and collaborated with 18 nonprofit organizations—all working together to reduce food waste and feed more people.
Want to get involved? FeedTahoe offers flexible volunteer opportunities that fit your schedule. Download the FeedTahoe mobile app on iOS or Android to view and sign up for food rescue missions. Every effort counts, and together, we can make a difference. Click here to learn more about FeedTahoe.
READ: Growing Literacy and Educational Support
Reading Pals
This month, we launched the Reading Pals program, a Marcella Foundation initiative designed to support early literacy by pairing adult volunteers with young readers. Through one-on-one reading sessions, volunteers help students build confidence and improve their literacy skills in a supportive environment. We are thrilled to kick off this program at Tahoe Valley Elementary School, where we have already trained 16 new volunteers who have been matched with students. The enthusiasm from both volunteers and the school community has been incredible, and we are grateful for the opportunity to make a lasting impact through the power of reading. Learn more here.
ReadingPals Volunteer Training
Imagination Library
We’re excited to share that our Imagination Library program, which provides free, age-appropriate books to children ages 0-5 every month, now has over 2,500 active registrations and 344 graduates! Since its launch, we’ve mailed 36,762 books, helping young learners develop a love for reading and building a strong foundation for early literacy. We can’t wait to see how we continue to grow in 2025! If you have a child in this age range and would love to receive a book delivered to their home every month for free, please click here for more information.
LEAD: Investing in Future Leaders
Education continues to be a cornerstone of our mission. This year, we’ve funded 83 college applications through the College Application Payment Program (CAPP), helping alleviate the financial burden for students pursuing higher education.
We also just finished accepting applications for the third year of the Fannan Fellowship, continuing our commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders.
Fannan Fellowship Recipients from 2023-2024