Thank you 2020-2021 Hunger Heroes

FIND’s Hunger Heroes are recognized for the significance of their contributions to helping FIND Food Bank meet the unparalleled rise in hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic. The innovation and dedication of these individuals and organizations ensured FIND Food Bank could provide hunger relief to a record number of people in the region, many of whom were experiencing food insecurity for the first time in their lives. FIND’s Hunger Heroes stand out among many generous supporters for their truly exceptional dedication to help feed those in need during the historic hunger crisis of 2020 and 2021.

2020-2021 Hunger Heroes

Cardiff Limousine and Transportation Company

Father-daughter Hunger Hero duo Gary and Lauren Cardiff of Cardiff Limousine and Transportation Company were among the first business owners to call FIND Food Bank at the onset of the pandemic to see how they could lend a helping hand. When homebound seniors and immunocompromised clients were particularly vulnerable in 2020 and FIND did not have the volunteers to reach them with life-saving food, Cardiff stepped in with a solution. The Cardiffs used their limousines to deliver nutritious food to those desperately needing assistance. They donated a fleet of vehicles to serve 120 homebound individuals twice a month over six months, donating the full cost of gas and drivers to support FIND’s efforts. FIND’s homebound delivery program continues today with a team of FIND volunteers that serve healthy groceries to 135 appreciative clients. FIND is grateful to Cardiff for being the launching partner, providing an essential program that will serve some of the most vulnerable food-insecure residents for many years to come.

Glenn Miller

Best known for his leadership in the community, including roles as Mayor and City Councilmember of Indio, Chief of Staff to current and past California state senators, and a local business owner, Glenn Miller has become much more than his titles in the hearts of the FIND Food Bank family. Glenn recognized FIND’s commitment to providing meals and hope to desert residents when the economic impact of the pandemic placed thousands into positions of food insecurity nearly overnight. To show his appreciation, Glenn took the initiative to coordinate and provide food to our staff and the National Guard every week for almost nine months. He believed in feeding those who were feeding others. Glenn never hesitates to lend his support to FIND’s mission or give a well-deserved thank you to those who place service above self through FIND’s work. FIND Food Bank is deeply appreciative to Glenn Miller have a passionate and committed supporter like Glenn Miller.

News Channel 3, The Desert’s News Leader

As FIND Food Bank’s media partner for more than 15 years, News Channel 3, The Desert’s News Leader, stood with FIND on the frontlines in 2020 and 2021, capturing the behind-the-scenes story of FIND’s role as the regional food bank to help provide for the health and well-being of the Coachella Valley. The team of reporters, producers, photographers, and editors always take special care to elevate the voices of people experiencing food insecurity, informing viewers of the community’s needs, and reminding those who may be struggling that they are not alone. The donations of media, time, energy, and passionate support from News Channel 3 helped ensure FIND could equitably distribute nutritious food supplies across 150 hunger-relief sites over the last two years of heightened need. Thank you to the entire News Channel 3 team for supporting FIND Food Bank’s work, especially through the past two challenging years, and for committing to serve and inform the Coachella Valley.

City of La Quinta

The City of La Quinta worked closely with FIND Food Bank to launch targeted food distribution programs, known as “small-format mobile distributions,” to fixed-income senior and low-income housing developments in La Quinta. La Quinta supplied $100,000 in funding for food and operational support. The funding allowed for consistent distribution of healthy food supplies to senior and low-income residents in La Quinta and supported other areas of the Coachella Valley by allowing FIND’s original allocation to La Quinta to go to neighboring cities to ensure those who were food-insecure had equitable access to nutritious meals. The partnership continues at eight food distribution sites throughout the City of La Quinta, including six affordable housing complexes and two of FIND’s monthly Mobile Market distributions. Thanks to the City of La Quinta’s unconditional support, many more households throughout the desert region have access to the healthy meals they need to sustain themselves and thrive.

City of Palm Springs

The City of Palm Springs responded to the hunger crisis of 2020 immediately, expanding its resources and services beyond Palm Springs to ensure the residents of bordering cities facing hunger could access FIND Food Bank’s critical services. When FIND needed to dramatically expand its capacity to serve thousands of newly food-insecure residents during Valley-wide food pantry closures due to COVID-19, the city helped secure the Palm Springs Convention Center to serve as a supersite location, along with other Mobile Market locations and funding, and coordination with the Palm Springs Police Department to help manage the sites. The centralized supersite became FIND’s largest Rapid Response Mobile Market, serving more than 1,000 households twice a month in Palm Springs and outlying cities. This easily accessible and safe drive-thru market ensured equitable food distribution for suddenly unemployed, underemployed, and furloughed workers, many of whom were experiencing food insecurity for the first time. The City of Palm Springs continues advocating thoughtfully for the food bank, connecting FIND to a diverse range of private and public partnerships to supply residents across the Coachella Valley with healthy food. Thank you for committing to FIND’s mission to ensure no one in the valley goes hungry.

Riverside County

Supervisor V Manuel Perez

Riverside County Fourth District

Greg Rodriguez

Government Relations & Public Policy Advisor to Supervisor Perez

Riverside County officials and staff played an essential role in FIND Food Bank’s 2020 pandemic response. They acted quickly to ensure FIND had vital resources to mitigate the hunger crisis as the Emergency Disaster Response Food Bank for eastern Riverside County. Their advocacy on FIND’s behalf secured $900,000 worth of food supplies from the county and another $100,000 to support FIND’s ability to disperse the food to 150 distribution sites. Riverside County helped form key partnerships with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, school districts, businesses, and private locations to open 44 drive-thru FIND Mobile Markets within a six-week window. Their efforts allowed FIND to feed a record number of people in 2020 and 2021, sustaining them and their families through the crisis.

Gayle Hoxter, Programs Chief

County of Riverside Department of Public Health, Nutrition Services, and Health Promotion Branch

Gayle Hoxter played an essential role in FIND Food Bank’s 2020 pandemic response. Leading her food response team to act quickly to ensure FIND had vital resources to mitigate the hunger crisis as the Emergency Disaster Response Food Bank for eastern Riverside County. The Riverside County Emergency Management Department provided critical storage space for emergency food supplies, obtaining a 30,000-square-foot hangar at the Fairgrounds in Indio. Their advocacy on FIND’s behalf secured $900,000 worth of food supplies from the county and another $100,000 to support FIND’s ability to disperse the food to 150 distribution sites. The foursome secured key partnerships with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, school districts, businesses, and private locations to open 44 drive-thru FIND Mobile Markets within a six-week window. Their efforts allowed FIND to feed a record number of people in 2020 and 2021, sustaining them and their families through the crisis.

Mark Bassett, Emergency Services Manager

Riverside County Emergency Management Department

Riverside County official, Mark Bassett, played an essential role in FIND Food Bank’s 2020 pandemic response. His rapid response with his team ensured FIND had vital resources to mitigate the hunger crisis as the Emergency Disaster Response Food Bank for eastern Riverside County. The Riverside County Emergency Management Department provided critical storage space for emergency food supplies, obtaining a 30,000-square-foot hangar at the Fairgrounds in Indio. Their advocacy on FIND’s behalf secured $900,000 worth of food supplies from the county and another $100,000 to support FIND’s ability to disperse the food to 150 distribution sites. His team helped secure key partnerships with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, school districts, businesses, and private locations to open 44 drive-thru FIND Mobile Markets within a six-week window. Their efforts allowed FIND to feed a record number of people in 2020 and 2021, sustaining them and their families through the crisis.

Brian Kaiser, Bureau Chief

CalFresh and Nutrition Programs, Family Engagement and Empowerment Division, California Department of Social Services

A strong advocate committed to the work of the regional food banks across California, Brian Kaiser leads his team year-round in coordinating The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) through the USDA and state-funded hunger relief programs for 49 food banks, including FIND. Brian and the department understood the significance of FIND’s position after stay-at-home orders devastated the desert’s largest economic industries, tourism and agriculture. FIND was fortunate to have a fierce supporter like Brian and his team, who advocated relentlessly to the state, protecting FIND’s resources as the region’s food bank. They leveraged their knowledge and experience in California’s food system to secure millions of pounds of food and funding for operational support. Their dedication ensured FIND Food Bank could serve 190,000 people facing hunger. The Food Distribution Unit showed its willingness to go the extra mile, deeply considering the complexities of the desert’s local economies, geography, and demographics. FIND is immensely grateful to Brian and his team as they continue to serve as a partner to FIND and food banks across the state.

Josh Fryday, Chief Service Officer

California Volunteers, Office of the Governor

California Volunteers became a critical organization to food banks across the state, especially after the sudden volunteer shortage in 2020 threatened to shut down FIND Food Bank’s operations. When FIND faced unprecedented challenges, the California Volunteers team was there every step of the way to secure funding, resources, and AmeriCorps VISTA and National Civilian Community Corps members. They helped build volunteer and warehouse capacity, operational capabilities and supported the Cal Guard’s needs to remain at the food bank. This allowed FIND to serve twice the number of people facing food insecurity over the last two years. Cal Volunteers helped promote volunteerism and civic engagement during several visits to FIND, helping inform the community of the importance of taking action to mitigate the impact of a historic hunger crisis. FIND is grateful for the continued support of the Cal Volunteers team to provide stability and resources to ensure no Californian is left behind.

Jon Siepmann, Executive Director, Governor’s Military Council

CalGuard

Cal Guard stepped in immediately in 2020 to ensure no one in the desert region went hungry after the majority of people in the valley could no longer volunteer at FIND Food Bank due to COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. The Guard arrived at FIND on March 23, 2020, to provide support to combat skyrocketing rates of food insecurity at the onset of the pandemic. Although initially contracted for only a few months, after nearly two years, the Guard continues to serve at FIND Food Bank, largely due to the advocacy of Jon, his team, and California Volunteers. The Guard and Jon strengthened FIND’s capacity and ability to assist 190,000 individuals at the pandemic’s peak and to continue serving 150,000 people facing hunger on average each month. Over the last two years, the Guard’s contributions total more than a million hours of service, saving FIND over $17 million in labor costs and ensuring FIND could provide equitable food distribution to communities throughout the desert region. FIND is deeply grateful for Jon’s commitment to serve and care for those experiencing food insecurity.