Neighborhood Heroes

Students have continued their education online with schools closed. One teacher has been working tirelessly from home to keep her students with autism engaged in learning. Pamela Wheeler teaches a class of ten students with Autism at Valle Del Sol Elementary school in Coachella. She is also the school’s special education department chair. She said

Chandi Group USA and members of the local Indian community worked together with the Sikh Temple Gurdwara Sahib Indio and the city of Indio to distribute meals and facemasks at Miles Avenue Park in Indio. They prepared and over 3,000 hot meals on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 11:00 a.m Wednesday morning. In addition

Heroes come in all shapes and forms and News Channel 3 wants to highlight anyone who is helping, in whatever way they can, during the coronavirus pandemic. With the help of its hero customers, Pastry Swan Bakery has found a way to keep their doors open and employees working, all while using customer donations to

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, many small businesses are in need of help. A recent group called Palm Springs Supports Small Business has been formed to match volunteers with small businesses. Palm Springs Supports Small Business said they are dedicated to reaching out a helping hand to the Palm Springs small business community, especially now, during

A resident of Desert Hot Springs put up signs made out of yarn throughout the community. Stephanie Buriel calls herself a yarn bomber. She said you decide on a design you want to make, work on it, and put it out in the community for people to enjoy. She’s used to putting up signs with

Cathedral City High Band members were tasked with community service projects prior to closures March 13th. The kids came up with a variety of outreach projects and ways to get involved in helping the community during the coronavirus pandemic. These projects involved making face masks, volunteering with organizations, making goodie bags for neighbors, and backpacks

Martha’s Village & Kitchen is one of the largest providers of homeless services in the Coachella Valley and Riverside County. During the coronavirus pandemic, they have seen an uptake in the needs of services. These essential employees are working hard to provide for those in need throughout the community. Larissa Kerstetter, the director of philanthropy

A procession made up of our local police and firefighters made its way through parts of Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage to show thanks to local first responders and health care workers. Police, fire, and ambulance lights and sirens filled the desert’s streets as residents lined up on the sidewalk celebrating the hard work by

Facebook group “RVs for MDs to Fight the Coronavirus Pandemic” started on March 24th, 2020. It is a group of people across the country that are either RV owners or healthcare workers. RV owners are lending their RVs to healthcare workers on the front lines so they are able to self-isolate. Dan Bartlett is one

Elaine Bordessa Newbrough has owned a Reversible Golf and Resortwear apparel company in the Coachella Valley for eleven years. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Newbrough has started using her facility, along with many volunteers, to distribute masks throughout the Coachella Valley. She is distributing bags of masks to various doctor’s offices and hospice centers to

The Coachella Valley Water District and it’s essential employees are being highlighted as our neighborhood heroes.  Their crews are working every day to make sure that the water and sewer systems stay running so other essential employees and businesses like hospitals, grocery stores, emergency responders, and homes have critical services during these times. Jim Barrett,

Mother and teacher with Palm Desert Middle School, Wende Hamann, and her daughter Karley, a student at La Quinta High School, are making facemasks for Desert Sands Unified School District staff on the front lines. These staff members are making and distributing thousands of meals. Wende said, “So we thought, hey we have the time.