90,000 people every month rely on food from FIND Food Bank, says CEO of FIND

What would happen if FIND, The Desert’s Regional Food Bank disappeared? News Channel 3’s Caitlin Thropay dives into the major impact FIND has on the desert and why we need to help keep it thriving.

If FIND Food Bank disappeared, nearly 90,000 people every month in our community would not be fed. That's according to Debbie Espinosa, the President and CEO of FIND Food Bank.

FIND, which stands for “food in need of distribution” finds ways into the community through local soup kitchens, mobile pantries, homeless shelters and distributions sites like the one at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Palm Desert.

“We’re feeding anywhere between 1,500 and 1,700 people every week,” Outreach Director at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Chet Hecht told News Channel 3.

All of the healthy meals being distributed are coming from FIND Food Bank.

One of those people who rely on this food every week is Joanna Ransier.

“I’m just so grateful for the fresh produce," Ransier said. “It touches me so deeply," she added.

But imagine how different life would be if FIND went away.

“If FIND Food Bank disappeared tomorrow you would have a huge number of people in food insecurity,” Hecht said.

“If I didn’t have the food bank as a resource for my food, it would be much more difficult for me being on social security fixed income,” Ransier shared.

This past year, FIND distributed over 12 million pounds of food, stocking 75 percent to 100 percent of our community pantries.

“And that amount adds up to over $19 million worth of food they don’t have to purchase,” Espinosa said.

But it’s also up to us as a community to make sure we never lose FIND Food Bank. Every year, FIND needs $3 million to do what they do. A $20 donation to FIND will provide 100 meals to those in need.

“And as the regional food bank, that’s our duty and that’s the weight we carry on our shoulders every day and that’s why we are so thankful to have so much support from the community making sure we can do our job to take care of the agencies, soup kitchens, pantries and clients in our community,” Espinosa said.

To learn more about how you can donate to FIND Food Bank visit their website: http://www.findfoodbank.org/donate/

If you or you know someone who is food insecure please visit this page on their website: http://www.findfoodbank.org/find-food/services/