FIND Food Bank fights food insecurity during Hunger Action Month
Every September, food banks across the nation raise awareness about Hunger Action Month.
As News Channel 3's Hernán Quintas reports, the valley's FIND Food Bank is encouraging residents and businesses to join the movement.
"We are doing this to help the community that we serve. these folks need our help, we’re helping them in the hospital, we’re helping them outside the hospital. anything we can do make our community be healthy," said Karen Faulis, CEO of JFK Memorial Hospital and the Hi-Desert Medical Center.
The FIND Food Bank is part of 200 food banks across the nation that come together to join in the fight to end hunger. This month, Desert Care Network personnel also joined the efforts.
"Personally, as a member of this community it’s always important to give back and to be able to have the ability to do that and take the time is really a great honor," said Michael Ditoro, chief administrative officer for Desert Regional Medical Center.
Residents of the Coachella Valley are particularly prone to suffer from food insecurity.
A report from the USDA found that food insecurity rates are higher in rural areas than in urban areas. In 2021, 11% of rural households were food insecure.
"150 thousand meals a month to 80 various organizations and multiple mobile markets that reach the farmworkers and the outskirts of Mecca and Thermal, north shore as well as up in the High Desert and the Morongo Basin," said Linda Evans, chief strategy officer for the Desert Care Network.
"This is the month where we focus on hunger awareness and make that concerted effort to let our neighbors know and individual business and anyone wanting to get more involved, this is the time where we really push out those efforts so that people are aware that hunger is not just a holiday," Kelly Mui-Chesterton, vice president of development & community engagement.
This month, Desert Care Network also made a donation to the FIND Food Bank.
"So we have a team of our Desert Care Network employees here, not only to present a donation check of $10, 000 dollars, but also to help pack fresh produce to homebound seniors and families in need," Evans said.
Three restaurants are participating in the fundraiser:
