School is out in just a few short weeks, and families everywhere are anxiously awaiting the freedom of summer. However, that “freedom” means uncertainty for many families across our desert who rely on free and reduced school lunches to guarantee their children are fed. For these families, nonprofits like FIND Food Bank are lifesavers. Delia Lechuga, Director of Operations states, “We partner with various schools during the school year providing take-home bags of fresh fruit and vegetables. In summer 2019, we will have 40 sites including churches, schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA and low-income housing units. Our Mobile Food Pantry delivers food to children and their families every Saturday at various locations including Cesar Chavez Elementary in Coachella, First AME Church in Indio, Desert Recreation District La Quinta, Desert AIDS Project and Shadow Hills High School.” For families who might be finding themselves abruptly facing food insecurity, Lechuga assures “There is no verification needed” meaning families can quickly and easily benefit from the program.
During the academic year, throughout out the valley, 8 out of 10 local school children qualify and have access to school-based meals through the Free and Reduced-Price Meal program, which often provides breakfast and snacks as well as daily lunch. However, during our scorching hot summers, when budgets are tightest, kids are hungriest and school is out, less than 1 in 10 local kids have access to school-based nutrition.
During these months, FIND operates Kids’ Summer Club, a 10-week distribution of healthy, kid-friendly food and snacks, and fresh produce which reaches over 6,000 children and their families weekly in 42 different locations.
FIND also works with community-based distribution partners to determine summer program needs that help reach as many young people as possible. They attempt to reach not only those kids who are able to participate in summer programs, but also siblings left at home and on the weekends.
FIND, a member of Feeding America and the California Association of Food Banks, is the only regional food bank serving Eastern Riverside and Southern San Bernardino Counties in Southern California. They distribute 10+ million pounds of food assistance annually to an average of 85,000 individuals each month across their service area. Of that food, approximately 40-50% is fresh produce. The remaining food is fresh rescue from local retailers and donated product.
The donated produce comes from local food drives, corporate partners and USDA Commodities (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture) while fresh rescue food comes from a variety of sources: local growers, local grocers, and warehouse stores. All food is checked for expiration dates, sorted and then placed into FIND inventory for distribution.
Their 100+ community-based partners enable FIND to distribute inventory for programs such as food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers, faith-based organizations, homeless shelters and missions, and schools.
Here are some things YOU can do to help FIND:
(1) Donate Money — To make your gift by mail or fax, you can download, print and fill-out their donation form available on their website. If you prefer, you can also donate by PayPal. Every $1 donated = 7 meals! Your donation is tax deductible. 501(c)(3) TAX ID # 33-0006007
(2) Donate Food — FIND can always use: peanut butter, canned tuna/chicken, canned fruit/veggies, soup, beans, meals-in-a-can/box, bottled water, and baby food/diapers.
(3) Volunteer — FIND needs help with everything from sorting donated food to stuffing envelopes. Adults can submit their volunteer application on the FIND website. Minor volunteers 14-17 are welcome to volunteer in the food distribution center and must be accompanied by an adult. For more information on volunteer opportunities, contact: Yessy Teran, Volunteer Coordinator, volunteer@findfoodbank, 760-775-3663 Ext.112
(4) Volunteer with FIND partners — Individual programs have individual needs, so please contact FIND partners if you’d like to help them out.
FIND Food Bank
83775 Citrus Ave
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-FOOD (3663)
findfoodbank.org
