Food Now Working Overtime to Meet a Growing Need in the Western Coachella Valley

Food Now has become one of the largest food pantries serving the Western Coachella Valley — and right now, its team is working overtime to meet a rapidly growing demand.

Our team visited their Desert Hot Springs facility to see firsthand how they’re doing it and the challenges they’re facing along the way.

Inside the Food Now warehouse in Desert Hot Springs, the atmosphere is buzzing with energy. Volunteers in bright shirts move quickly across the floor, preparing boxes and bags for the organization’s weekly food distributions at their Palm Drive location.

Food Now has been supporting the Coachella Valley for more than two decades, distributing over one million pounds of food each year to families experiencing food insecurity.

Fresh produce, proteins, and canned goods move through a streamlined system where volunteers work in sync to ensure families have what they need. Each box includes ingredients for up to four family meals — and even pet food, because as staff say, “the family pet matters too.”

Beyond weekly distributions, Food Now also partners closely with local schools to help ensure students have reliable access to food at home, not just in the classroom.

But the mission hasn’t been without obstacles. Recent USDA cuts and reductions to SNAP benefits have tightened resources just as community need reaches record levels.

To bridge the gap, Food Now is turning to community members, donors, and local partnerships for support. Despite the challenges, staff say the warehouse remains a critical lifeline for hundreds of families each week.

Food Now is turning compassion into action with a Gallery Night fundraiser on Friday, November 14th, on El Paseo in Palm Desert.

The event runs from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and every dollar raised will help keep food on local tables — and hope in local hearts.