Empty Shelves, Growing Need: Coachella Valley Rescue Mission Urgently Seeks Food Donations

Tonight, a dire plea is coming from the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission in Indio, where officials are warning they may soon have to turn families away from their weekly food box program due to critically low supplies.

Standing inside the mission’s Food Distribution Center, the visual is stark: rows of empty shelves where canned goods, rice, and boxed meals once stood. For longtime volunteers and staff, the emptiness is hauntingly familiar—echoing the most difficult months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We usually operate with shelves so full we have to stack items on the floor. Now, we have enough food to last maybe two more weeks." Says Scott Wolf, development director of the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission.

The mission distributes food boxes every Wednesday to struggling families. Each box includes essential non-perishable items designed to feed a family for several days. But with a 200% increase in demand, that generosity is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. Erin Lombardo, who now works at the mission after once being a recipient herself, says the situation is heartbreaking. "I know these families. I know these kids. Some are starting school next week, and they might not have food on the table. It breaks my heart."

Lombardo and other staff say the increase in need has been rapid and overwhelming. Many families are dealing with job instability, inflation, and housing costs—forcing them to turn to the mission for help.

The solution, officials say, lies with the community. They’re asking local residents to add a few extra non-perishable items to their shopping carts during their next trip to the grocery store.

"If you're going to Costco or Sam’s Club, just grab a couple extra cans or boxes," says Wolf. "It may not seem like much, but it could mean the world to a family struggling to get by."

The mission is currently feeding over 100 families each week. Without additional donations, that number may have to shrink. If you’d like to help, you can donate non-perishable food items directly to the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission in Indio or visit their website cvrm.org to find a list of the most needed items and other ways to contribute. For more information tune into NBC Palm Springs.