Mass San Bernardino shooting impacts Valley organizations

The mass shooting at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino hit close to home for the Coachella Valley. People in the desert depend on the IRC to get the help they need.

Inland Regional Center serves more than 31,000 people with developmental disabilities in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

The IRC provides funding, case management services and refers people to agencies in the desert such as Desert Arc, United Cerebral Palsy and Angel View. The shooting that killed 14 people and injured 17 was heartbreaking for the organizations.

“It’s very scary and worrisome,” said Mitch Blumberg of Desert Arc. “It involves an agency that serves among the most vulnerable people in the state of California, people with developmental disabilities.”

The mood was somber Angel View in Desert Hot Springs as people got the news of the mass shooting and watched for the latest updates both online and on television.

Angel View employees said work closely with about 100 employees at the IRC.

“It’s very devastating. We work with a lot of the people at Inland Regional Center, they are social workers. They’re all good people trying to do the best for people with disabilities,” said executive director Patti Park.

Angel View employees made multiple calls to see if everyone they know at IRC in San Bernardino is safe. They got some responses, but didn’t hear back from everyone they called.