Demand for food and services increasing at Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, community donations needed

The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission has new protective measures in place to keep visitors and staff members safe during the coronavirus crisis. 

Guests/clients at the mission are socially distancing and essentially on “lockdown,” meaning they can’t leave the mission during the day. 

“We can’t do a lot of things...it’s really taken a toll on this little autisitic boy...because he wants to go out those doors,” said Cindy Fadness, a CVRM client and mother of two.

Fadness says she’s grateful the mission is taking extra precautions to keep everyone safe, including her own family. “You have no idea. It worries me a lot,” she said. 

She says the mission has been a safe haven for her and her boys during the pandemic: “They’ve helped us out in so many ways that I can’t even describe.”

The mission’s executive director, Darla Burkett, says they expect the number of people in need of assistance to rise as the crisis continues. “We’re busy with more people and less volunteers,” said Burkett. The mission has had to temporarily cut all of their volunteers as a health precaution. 

Additionally, beds at the mission are now farther apart. There are about half of the number of chairs in the dining room as before. And visitors can no longer come and go as they please. The mission says the risk of exposure is just too great. 

“So far so good we haven’t had anyone come back with a positive test result,” said Burkett.  

With everyone there sheltering in place, they now have to provide meals and resources for people 24/7. They’re all here all the time...so yes we need more food, we need water bottles, palettes of water,” said Burkett. 

And with resources spread thin, the mission is asking the community for help. “We need rice beans, soup, macaroni and cheese all things that we can feed mass [numbers of] people with.” Burkett added they also need hand sanitizer, toiletries and clothing. 

“We’re the place that will always help people. So we’re grateful for people helping us,” said Burkett. 

To donate financially to the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, click here. 

You can also drop off non-perishable food items, clothing and toiletry donations at their main campus in Indio: 47-470 Van Buren St. Indio, CA 92201