Nearly $150,000 raised for FIND during CBS Local 2 Telethon

Community members raised $146,000 Friday night for the FIND Food Bank’s fifth telethon partnership with Gulf California Broadcast station CBS Local 2.

Donations were still coming in to the food bank as of Tuesday evening, said FIND CEO Lisa Houston, who added she hoped to reach the goal of $150,000 set before the telethon.

The number was still a record-breaking total for the telethon, which raised over $100,000 last year. The evening of live coverage was punctuated by “matching donations” and “challenges” brought forward by local elected officials.

Local leaders like Palm Springs Fire Chief John Allen, and Palm Desert Mayor Van Tanner, volunteered to answer the phones at the Indio facility last week to take call-in donations. Area organizations and businesses, such as the Indio Boys & Girls Club, Bank of America, and 20 for Change also spent the evening packing and sorting 30,000 pounds of donated food.

“The food insecurity problem in our desert is a problem bigger than what one social service agency can handle alone, but Friday night was the real example on how many of us can come together and truly make a difference,” said Houston. “Thank you Coachella Valley for all your support,” she added.

Donations can still be made via the food bank’s website, www.findfoodbank.org

The FIND Food Bank works with 100 local agencies to distribute food and other essential items to nearly 90,000 people in the extended Coachella Valley area.