Students Earn $10,000 Community Service Grants

Second group to advance charity efforts with community service

PALM DESERT — Nearly three dozen College Corps volunteers who collectively spent more than 16,000 hours fighting hunger in the Coachella Valley were recognized Thursday for their efforts as a new group of students follows in their footsteps.

“While education fills our minds, giving to others enriches our souls,” College of the Desert Interim Superintendent/President Laura Hope said in a statement. “These students learned valuable lessons beyond the walls of a classroom and truly impacted the lives of people across the Coachella Valley.”

The College Corps Program launched in Fall 2022, providing $10,000 in paid fellowships and scholarships for College of the Desert students who volunteer at least 450 hours over the course of a year at FIND (Food In Need of Distribution) Food Bank, headquartered in Indio.

“The journey to end food insecurity in our region took a big step forward, thanks to the dedication and time invested by these College Corps volunteers,” FIND Food Bank President and CEO Debbie Espinosa said in a statement. “We should all be inspired to see an even larger group helping to provide food and dignity to others. These volunteers were instrumental to our workforce development programming, building their own skills for employment, through helping those who are in need of food assistance.”

The 34 students who participated in the initial College Corps cohort were recognized during a ceremony at 4 p.m. on Aug. 10 at the College of the Desert Indio Campus, located at 45524 Oasis Street. The event also included a swearing in of the 56 students participating in the second cohort, who will collectively complete nearly 25,000 hours of service to fight food insecurity.

The participating students serve at the College’s central pantry on campus and FIND’s warehouse, mobile pantries and distribution centers. In return, they gain experience and access to training, networking, and professional development opportunities.

To learn more about the College Corps Program at College of the Desert, visit https://collegeofthedesert.edu/students/basic-needs/college-corps.php