Boys & Girls Clubs, Find Food Bank Partner

Nonprofit outreach and partnership between Boys & Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley and Find Food Bank benefits many East Valley low-income residents

The endless months of the Covid-19 pandemic has left many organizations scrambling to think up “out-of-the-box” alternative directions and new ways to help those who are hurting in their community, as well as pursuing their official mission statements.  An ongoing partnership was pushed into fifth gear during this trying time between Boys & Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley and FIND (Food in Need of Distribution) Food Bank to help benefit so many more in need living in our local desert communities.

“FIND has delivered food to us for years,” said Program Outcome Specialist David Bernal.  “This typically happens during the summer months.  However, during the pandemic, FIND has steadily helped us feed seniors at the Indio Senior Center several times during the past 8-9 months, when we have gone to FIND to pick up multiple truckloads of food to distribute.”

A typical food distribution begins with Quality Control Manager Maria Jimenez scheduling the day and time for pickup.  A few of the BGCOCV team members take trucks to FIND where forklift drivers load up 3-4 pallets.  The pallets are brought back to Indio.  On the scheduled day, residents in need pull their cars up curbside.  They are asked how many members are in their family.  Sufficient food is then loaded into the trunks of their vehicles.  On the average, this food distribution lasts between 2-3 hours, feeding between 400-600 people.  From May through January of 2020-2021 FIND Food Bank, through their partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley, has distributed food to 8,500 individuals feeding more people in 9 months than the number of kids they normally served before Covid-19 in twelve months.

“The Boys and Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley is an integral part of FIND Food Bank’s community network to distribute fresh food,” said FIND Food Bank Development and Community Relations Coordinator Kayleen Sullivan.  “As our community agency partner, they help deliver fresh fruits, vegetables, and proteins from our warehouse to both the youth in the area, as well as older adults at the Indio Senior Center.  BGCCV has gone above and beyond during the Covid-19 pandemic to help keep our community stay connected.”

As a bonus, last November, the BGCCV kids from the Indio Clubhouse created Thanksgiving Cards for homebound clients who live alone.  This act of kindness livened up the holidays for many seniors who struggle on a normal bases and more so since having to shelter in.  The sentiment was very much appreciated by the seniors served by FIND Food Bank.

“We have worked with FIND for more than 25-years,” said BGCCV President and CEO Dr. Quinton Egson.  “We are extremely pleased with our partnership.  As a youth development organization focused on improving and enhancing the lives of all young people and their families, we want to do our part to combat the food insecurity that runs rapidly throughout our communities.  Together with FIND we are making a difference.”

MISSION STATEMENT: To save and enhance the lives of the young people of our community, especially those with economic and/or social needs by offering a safe-haven and meaningful youth development services provided by a caring and qualified staff.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Call 760-836-1160  or click here.