FISH – Friends In Service Helping: A Hand-Up, Not a Handout
Established in 1979, FISH offers a workforce development program geared at moving underemployed clients from minimum wage jobs to meaningful careers with local employers. FISH also aims to address the growing numbers of homeless and hungry residents in the Carson City community, provides food, instruction, shelter and other services in Carson City, and in Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties.
How FISH serves our community
From July of 2019 to June of 2020, FISH served 3,672 households of which 2,7019 were under the federal poverty level. FISH provided over 400,000 meals between their food banks and dining room. FISH also provided 7,712 nights of shelter at their two emergency shelters.
FISH also offers a Transitional Housing Program designed to help families (who work a minimum of 40 hours per week and have children under the age of 18) find housing stability. FISH offers housing with low rent and gives families 24 months to achieve a stable financial path on their own.
Giving a Hand Up
“Fast Forward 4 Families” is a new workforce development program in Carson City that provides full-ride family scholarships for tech training to help Nevadans move from minimum wage jobs to meaningful careers.
Community partners including Western Nevada College and Capital City C.I.R.C.L.E.S. Initiative offer formal education and skill development while FISH takes care of housing, food, on-the-job training and other support.
Certificate programs being offered include manufacturing, construction, automotive, welding, HVAC, information technology and healthcare.
Small Donations Count More Than You Think When You Help FISH
Donations of all sizes can go a long way towards helping non-profits serve lower income individuals and families in Northern Nevada. Whether you can afford $5 or $5,000, every dollar helps.
FISH helps thousands of Northern Nevada families get back on their feet each year by giving “a hand up, not a handout”.
Their services include an emergency food closet, emergency shelters and a workforce development program geared at moving underemployed clients from minimum wage jobs to meaningful careers with local employers.
What Your Money Does
A donation of $2.50 can provide a warm and nutritious meal for one person.
$10 can feed a family of four one meal in the Family Dining room.
$200 can feed a full house of 80 people.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors – Why FISH Needs Your Donations
With record-high unemployment numbers across Nevada, now more than ever, members of our community need the services and support FISH provides.
98% of FISH’s operating budget comes from donors like you. They count on the generous donations of people in the communities they serve. FISH doesn’t rely on grants from the state or federal government to cover the services they offer.
With the inability to hold in-person fundraising events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FISH’s usual stream of steady donations throughout the year has slowed to a trickle.
Making the Most of Your Donation
A regular donation of $5 a month can help more people than a one-time donation. Replacing FISH’s stream of money from events with a consistent, monthly donation can help FISH serve more people in our community.
Why We Are Spotlighting FISH
Our team understands that homelessness and financial insecurity have many faces and every situation is unique. That is why we chose to promote a non-profit that excels in offering a variety of services in a flexible environment.