Well in the Desert cancels annual Christmas feast in Palm Springs
Luis Avila
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A major holiday event that has traditionally served hundreds of people in need across the Coachella Valley has been canceled this year.
Well in the Desert announced it will not hold its annual Christmas Feast at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The organization says the decision was made to redirect resources toward meeting urgent food insecurity needs happening right now.
According to Well in the Desert President Matt Naylor, lingering disruptions in food assistance have increased demand across the valley, prompting the nonprofit to shift its focus from a single large holiday event to expanded, immediate outreach.
“During the government shutdown we had a problem with food insecurities and a lot of families that needed our help now so what the Well in the Desert board decided to do was take our money and put it where our mouth was and that was right now… We’re still continuing what we canceled, the Christmas event at the Convention Center, we’ve done double the amount of work of serving people without being there because they needed it now.”
Matt Naylor, Well in the Desert President
On Wednesday, Well in the Desert partnered with CV BBQ and Palm Desert Baseball to distribute free meals to the community.
For people experiencing homelessness, the support is critical. Mariah, who says she is currently unhoused, shared how impactful the meal distribution has been.
“I feel really good actually. I’m not used to people helping me. I’m used to doing it all myself so just to have a dinner to come to and be so far from home is really amazing.”
Mariah, Attendee
Despite the cancellation of the Christmas feast, Well in the Desert says its outreach has not slowed — and has, in fact, expanded.
The organization will continue distributing free meals on Christmas Day at Oscar’s in downtown Palm Springs from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Stay with News Channel 3 for more.