FIND Food Bank assists with food stamp applications, Medi-Cal

Joel Gonzalez is the Outreach Director with the FIND Food Bank in Indio. He and the other members of the Outreach Team work to bring resources other than just food to the community. Through individual case managements, they help with applications for CalFresh food stamps and Medi-Cal, while providing consultation to those in need of further assistance.

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Gonzalez is able to connect well with those he is assisting because of his own background. It was 16 years ago that he was homeless and lived under the bridge off of Golf Center Drive in Indio.

“The reason I was homeless was because of drug addiction,” said Gonzalez. He eventually cleaned up, became a pastor and got a job with the FIND Food Bank.

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Gonzalez’s supervisor, Delia Luchega, says the work of her entire team is necessary and important. “One in six people struggle with hunger, so if you’re in line at the grocery store, and there’s always ten people in line, you know one or two of them are struggling. Maybe it’s a single mom with $20 trying to figure out how she’ll make it through the week.”

If you would like to get more information on the resources available through the FIND Food Bank, you can call 1 (877) 748-6479.