Martha’s Village Gives Away Holidays Food Baskets To Needy Families

COACHELLA – Families facing hardships this holiday season lined up outside Martha’s Village to get their hands on a box –or two– of food donations.

Patti Garza, of Indio, has to feed a family of six.

“Iused to be a supervisor and able to make some good money,” she said. “And as you can see, I’m handicapped in a wheelchair. But, there’s a lot of good people out there.”

Patti is referring to the volunteers helping to spread some holiday cheer. A group of marines from Twentynine Palms signed up to do this during their free time.

“It feels good, you know?,” Pfc. Zack Meyerle, originally from Philadelphia. “It’s around Christmastime, andI wishI was home with my family. This year, I’m not. So,I might as well help someone else out, you know?”

Martha’s Village expects to give away 1,500 – 2,000 of these food baskets. These are donations collected by more than two dozen organizations in the desert, including the “FillA Bus” event that collected nearly eight tons of goods.

To take advantage of the crowd, nurses were at hand to administertheH1N1flu vaccines to anyone who wanted it.

Martha’s Village turned out to be the one-stop shop for services. The outpouring inspired some student volunteers from Coachella Valley High School to reflect.

“It makes me wonder: What if this was actually me? Would they be helping me?” asked twelfth grade student Vanessa Lopez-Garcia.

Patti Garzasays she appreciates the help. She hopes that one day she will be able to return the favor.

“You learn how to make do with what you have, and if you have a little bit more, you pass it on,” she said.