Non-profit gets OK to serve more free meals at Nevada City Veteran's Building

 A successful appeal to the Nevada City council means that a local non-profit can serve the homeless and working poor two more meals a week at the Veteran’s Building.

Thomas Streicher, the founder and president of Divine Spark, brought the request to the council after City Manager Gene Albaugh had previously rejected it.

“I felt that we needed the building for other opportunities,” Albaugh said at a recent council meeting.

Divine Spark had been serving lunch three days a week at the building at 415 Pine Street. Streicher, who testified he serves an average of 75 people at the free lunches, wanted to extend that to five days a week.

There was no opposition to the request, while five residents testified in favor of it.

The council voted 5-0 for the extension as long as Divine Spark agreed to continue paying a $20 an hour rental fee and to not use the facility if there is a scheduling conflict.

The non-profit has been serving the free lunches from noon to 1 p.m. on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Park and Recreation Supervisor Dawn Zydonis will work with Streicher to schedule the additional two days per week.

Divine Spark is located at 308 Main Street, Suite 6, in Nevada City. To learn more about the organization or to make a donation, visit www.divinespark.us or call 530-265-2620.