Food Bank of Northern Nevada

✍️ LargestCharities Editorial Team | 📅 Last updated: June 2026

The Food Bank of Northern Nevada serves Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and the rural counties of northern Nevada from its Sparks headquarters, extending across the state line into the eastern Sierra of California. Its 90,000-square-mile service area is vast and mostly empty, and it reaches more than 137,000 people a month through 155-plus partner agencies, nearly half of them children and seniors. Nicole Lamboley has led it as President and CEO since 2019, and she has chaired the western region of food banks for Feeding America.

HeadquartersSparks, NV (serving Reno)
President & CEONicole Lamboley (since 2019)
Service areaNorthern Nevada + eastern Sierra, California
NetworkFeeding America member
Reach137,000+ people a month, 155+ partners
Footprint90,000 square miles
Websitefbnn.org
A 90,000-square-mile service area. The Food Bank of Northern Nevada covers Reno, Sparks, and rural northern Nevada plus eastern California. Find help, donate, or volunteer at fbnn.org.
Donate → Volunteer

What the food bank does

The Food Bank of Northern Nevada sources food at scale and distributes it across one of the largest, emptiest service areas of any food bank, more than 90,000 square miles, through 155-plus partner agencies and its own mobile distributions. Reaching the remote high-desert communities of northern Nevada and the eastern Sierra takes a logistics operation built for distance, and the food bank runs strong programs for children and seniors, who make up nearly half of those it serves.

Leadership: Nicole Lamboley

Nicole Lamboley has been President and CEO since 2019. She previously held senior roles in Nevada state government and health care, including chief deputy secretary of state and an administrator at Renown Health. Her peers elected her to chair the western region of food banks for Feeding America, which earned her a seat on the network’s national advisory council.

Who it serves

The service area covers northern Nevada, from the Reno-Sparks and Carson City metros out across rural high-desert counties, and extends into the eastern Sierra of California. Reno’s economy has grown with tech-sector expansion, including the Tesla Gigafactory, but that growth has driven up housing costs and left many working families food-insecure, a different pattern than Las Vegas to the south.

Is it legitimate? Ratings and finances

Yes. The Food Bank of Northern Nevada is a registered 501(c)(3) and a Feeding America member, with its CEO holding national leadership in the network. Donors can review its financials through Charity Navigator and GuideStar. Bulk buying and donated food mean a gift produces many meals.

How to donate and volunteer

Donations and volunteer shifts run through fbnn.org. Volunteers sort and pack food and help at mobile distributions across the vast service area, and cash gifts go furthest because of the food bank’s purchasing power.

How it compares with other Nevada food banks

The Food Bank of Northern Nevada covers Reno, Sparks, and the northern part of the state, while Three Square covers Las Vegas and Southern Nevada. Together they cover the state. For anyone in the Reno area or northern Nevada, this is the lead organization.

Programs

Partner network

155+ agencies across a 90,000-square-mile area.

Mobile distributions

Food brought into remote high-desert communities.

Programs for children

School and weekend food support for kids at risk of hunger.

Senior programs

Food assistance for older adults on fixed incomes.

By the numbers

Frequently asked questions

What is the Food Bank of Northern Nevada?
The food bank for Reno, Sparks, and northern Nevada plus the eastern Sierra of California, serving 137,000+ people a month across 90,000 square miles. A Feeding America member. Site: fbnn.org.
Who runs it?
Nicole Lamboley, President and CEO since 2019, who has chaired the western region of food banks for Feeding America.
Is it a good charity?
It is a 501(c)(3) and Feeding America member with national leadership in the network. Donors can review its financials through Charity Navigator and GuideStar.
Does it serve California?
Yes. Its service area extends across the state line into the eastern Sierra of California.
How can I help?
Donate or volunteer at fbnn.org. Volunteers sort food and help at mobile distributions.

Sources: Food Bank of Northern Nevada website (fbnn.org), and 2News and Feeding America materials on Nicole Lamboley’s leadership and the organization’s service area. We are not affiliated with Food Bank of Northern Nevada and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]

More Nevada and food-bank resources