Reno Reporter

A Northern Nevada nonprofit that was established to help people with food during the pandemic has grown to over 6,000 volunteers, according to the University of Nevada, Reno.

According to a news release shared by the university, the organization goes under the moniker Shopping Angels and is led by Jayde Powell, a graduate of the 2021 Nonprofit Academy, who said their objective is to build bonds in the community.

According to Powell: “It also represents the solidarity I feel with my own community – it’s a profound reminder that I am not alone in my pursuit to better the world, that I can always count on my loved ones for support, and then provide that unconditional support to others. It also exemplifies the immense support that I have received from the University of Nevada along this journey.”

The university reported that the Nonprofit Academy specializes in teaching CEOs how to maximize nonprofits in the state.

Powell, who was one of seven students who won awards from the Board of Regents or the university, said that most impactful lesson that she learned during the pandemic was that anyone could change the world.

“The most invaluable experience I’ve had at the University of Nevada has been my enrollment in Psychology of Trauma, taught by Dr. Dean Hinitz, and for several years thereafter being a member of his teaching team,” added Powell, a recipient of the Sam Lieberman Regents Award for Student Scholarship. “I wasn’t sure what to expect out of this class, and I certainly wasn’t aware of the semesterly fight to escape the waitlist. For anyone who is in this position – this class is worth every moment. Each class period was a cherished time to spend with the teaching team and with my peers, being vulnerable with one another, learning about empathy and human connection, and how to push our comfort zones. You could not have paid me to skip that class.”