Friday, September 6, marked National Food Bank Day, a day to honor the volunteers and food bank workers helping to end food insecurity. 

Food banks are a critical resource in our desert cities. According to FIND Food Bank about 1 in 6 people experience food insecurity here in the Coachella Valley. 

People are encouraged to participate in National Food Bank Day by volunteering, donating or by spreading awareness.

“Volunteers are extremely crucial for our operations. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to pack and sort the food in our warehouse,” said Yolanda Moreno, with FIND Food Bank.

FIND Food Bank workers say they lose about 60 percent of their volunteers in the summertime leaving vulnerable communities in need. 

“The need in our remote areas is greater. Volunteers are needed in places such as Sky Valley, Thermal, Mecca,” said Moreno.

Anyone interested in volunteering at Find Food Bank can help during a variety of shifts Monday through Friday. You can find the full schedule here, findfoodbank.volunteerhub.com

To read the full article and watch the interview, click here.