Coachella Valley Rescue Mission prepares for growing Thanksgiving demand, calls for community support

Raymond Kalra

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – For some families across the Coachella Valley, putting food on the table has become a daily struggle. At the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, staff and volunteers are working to meet that need, serving hundreds of meals each day while preparing for an even greater demand during the upcoming holiday season.

On Wednesday morning, the organization distributed five pallets of food boxes to residents facing food insecurity. The supplies were gone within the first hour, despite the distribution typically being scheduled for a two-hour window.

Andrew Newton, who helps manage the kitchen at the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, said the demand for food assistance continues to be significant.

“We’re seeing a lot of seniors coming through our lines,” Newton said. “Like this morning, we just gave away five pallets of food boxes this morning and they were gone within the first hour.”

Newton said the organization is currently meeting much of the demand, but some residents still leave without receiving assistance once supplies run out.

“There are still some people who show up and everything’s gone,” Newton said. “And so that’s hard to turn people away and to tell them, you know, try and be here earlier next week because there’s no telling how many people are going to show up.”

The mission typically distributes approximately 150 to 180 food boxes every Wednesday, providing groceries to families and individuals struggling to afford food.

Newton said the organization is seeing seniors, families with young children, pregnant women and other residents seeking help.

He pointed to the rising cost of everyday necessities as one reason people are struggling.

“Everything’s more expensive,” Newton said. “So filling your pantry now cost twice as much as it once did.”

Inside the kitchen: Preparing up to 1,200 meals a day

Beyond its weekly food distributions, the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission operates a kitchen preparing approximately 1,000 to 1,200 meals every day for people staying at the facility and members of the surrounding community.

On Wednesday, kitchen staff worked along a food preparation line, placing hot dogs and tater tots into individual to-go containers for lunch.

Newton said each meal requires a significant amount of preparation, with the kitchen typically serving around 300 people per meal.

A normal morning can include preparing gallons of eggs and oatmeal, dozens of trays of bacon and hundreds of pancakes. Staff also prepare sandwiches, potatoes, meats and other food throughout the day.

Newton said the kitchen typically has between four and six people working behind the scenes, including individuals participating in the mission’s job skills training program and volunteers from the community.

However, the kitchen’s menu is often determined by the donations it receives.

“The biggest challenge is the amount of food that we have at hand, on hand at the time,” Newton said. “And that’s what our menu usually revolves around, is what we have on hand. And that’s dependent on what we get from donations from people around this valley.”

Newton emphasized that contributions from the community make the mission’s daily food operations possible.

“Those donations are absolutely vital,” he said. “They are the reason why we are able to make the meals that we’re able to make for the people that are living here and for the public out and around the valley that need to eat a meal.”

From receiving help to helping others

For Newton, working in the kitchen carries a deeply personal meaning.

Before helping prepare meals for others, he experienced struggles similar to those faced by many of the people now turning to the Rescue Mission for assistance.

“I know where these people are coming from. I know the hurt that they are going through,” Newton said. “I can sympathize and empathize with what these people are going through, because I also went through this situation myself.”

Newton said his own experiences have shaped how he approaches his work and interacts with people receiving assistance.

He said providing a meal is about more than making sure someone has something to eat. It’s also about helping them feel supported during a difficult time.

“I know how important it is to have somebody there that cares about your well-being and that will be there and listen to you and give you a shoulder to cry on and a nice meal to make you feel good,” Newton said.

He added that witnessing the progress of people participating in the mission’s programs is one of the most rewarding parts of his work.

Newton said he hopes those receiving meals feel welcomed, respected and cared for.

“I hope that they feel loved, and I hope that they feel comfortable, and I hope that they feel like they belong like that they matter because they do,” he said.

Preparing for an even greater Thanksgiving demand

With Thanksgiving approaching, the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission is preparing for a significant increase in demand for food assistance.

The organization anticipates potentially distributing close to 3,000 Thanksgiving food boxes in the days leading up to and on the holiday, according to preliminary estimates shared with News Channel 3.

Newton said the mission is preparing for holiday demand that could be nearly double what it has experienced in recent years.

“What we’re expecting this year is probably almost double what we have been receiving in the last few years,” Newton said. “At least that’s what we’re going to prepare for just so that we’re ready.”

In addition to its food assistance distributions, the mission plans to serve holiday meals to its clients and members of the public.

Newton said Thanksgiving breakfast service will begin at 6 a.m., with pancakes, eggs, bacon, hash browns, sausage and fruit on the menu.

Later in the day, the kitchen plans to serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner featuring turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, candied yams, green beans and pies.

Preparing for Thanksgiving requires substantially more food than an ordinary day.

Newton said the kitchen may need to prepare several times its usual quantities to accommodate the additional people arriving for holiday meals.

“The difference is we have to prepare about ten times the amount of food because it is an unlimited service for a four hour window just for breakfast,” Newton explained.

The mission also expects to welcome family members of individuals staying at the facility, along with other residents seeking a holiday meal.

Volunteers play a critical role

As the mission prepares for Thanksgiving and Christmas, staff say community volunteers are essential to keeping operations running.

Scott Wolf, development coordinator at the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, said hundreds of volunteers contribute their time each year, helping with everything from meal preparation to mentorship programs.

“Volunteerism and volunteers are the backbone of what we do here,” Wolf said. “We couldn’t do what we do without hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of volunteers coming here every year to serve, to mentor our clients, to teach classes, to help us in the kitchen, serve meals.”

Wolf said the mission is already operating at high capacity, and the holiday season brings additional demand for food and other services.

“We really highly depend on our volunteers and we cherish our volunteers,” Wolf said. “They really come together and they really make it special for us during the holidays.”

Volunteer opportunities extend beyond the kitchen.

According to Wolf, community members can help prepare and serve meals, mentor individuals participating in the mission’s long-term programs, teach classes or sort donations at the organization’s thrift store.

Wolf said the mission welcomes people with different skills and backgrounds who are interested in giving back.

How the community can help

As Thanksgiving approaches, the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission is appealing for additional food donations, financial contributions and volunteers to help serve residents in need.

Newton said every contribution, regardless of size, can help the organization continue its work.

“Any donation matters. Every donation matters, no matter how big or how small,” Newton said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s one can of food or 100 cans of food. Every donation matters and everything counts.”

The mission also wants people who may be struggling to afford groceries or meals to know that assistance is available.

“If you’ve never used this service before, come down, take a look, see what we can do for you,” Newton said.

For Newton, the mission’s work is about more than providing meals. It’s about giving people hope and a sense of belonging during difficult times.

And as the kitchen prepares for another busy holiday season, he hopes the community will continue supporting the people who depend on its services.

Residents interested in volunteering, donating or learning more about available services can visit the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission website.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage of how local organizations are addressing food insecurity across the Coachella Valley.

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