Find Food Bank Urges Holiday Donations and Volunteers as Demand Doubles After Shutdown

With the holidays just a week away, Find Food Bank is sounding the alarm as food insecurity rises sharply across the Coachella Valley. The nonprofit typically sees demand grow by about 40% during the holiday season, but this year’s federal government shutdown has caused need to spike even further—doubling the number of families coming through their distribution lines.

According to the food bank’s vice president of community impact, many households are now being forced to make difficult tradeoffs, prioritizing medication and basic necessities over groceries. With delays and uncertainty surrounding SNAP and CalFresh benefits, families who normally rely on federal assistance are turning to Find Food Bank for urgent support. To address those gaps, the organization has deployed “CalFresh interruption boxes,” designed to provide temporary relief for those whose benefits were disrupted.

In response to the heightened need, Find Food Bank is urging the public to donate shelf-stable items—such as peanut butter, canned goods, and pantry staples—and to consider volunteering during the busy holiday months. Community partners are also stepping in to help. The Coachella Valley Firebirds’ One Valley Foundation has launched its Season of Giving canned food drive in partnership with Find Food Bank. Donation barrels are placed throughout Acrisure Arena, making it easy for visitors to contribute.

NBC Palm Springs will be live from the arena on Friday with more information on how residents can support local families. As need continues to rise, Find Food Bank hopes the community will come together to help stabilize households still recovering from the shutdown’s impact.