Members of the Sierra Nevada Amateur Radio Society (SNARS) — an ARRL Special Service Club — recently teamed up with a Reno TV station to help raise some $240,000 in donations and 180,000 pound of food items and toys to aid Nevada families hard hit by the economic downturn. Reno not only suffered a recent cold snap, but Nevada has seen the most home loan foreclosures and the nation’s highest unemployment rate over most of the past decade.

On December 13, with most of Washoe County hunkered down from the cold, SNARS members, organized and led by Jim Rosima, KD7DPW, took part in the 21st annual “Share Your Christmas Drive-By Food Drive,” sponsored by local CBS affiliate KTNV. The event took place in three locations — the Governor’s Mansion in Carson City, the Carson Valley Inn in Minden, and the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno. KTNV broadcast live throughout the day.

The event is set up to let people remain in their cars and simply drive through designated lanes to make their donations. SNARS members accepted contributions, sorted and boxed food and toys, and provided traffic control.

Founded in 1968, SNARS serves the Amateur Radio communities of Northern Nevada and Eastern California. Its members are active in public service, and the club maintains an extensive network of voice and digital repeaters.