Full Pantry, Growing Need: Coachella Valley Rescue Mission Calls for Continued Community Support

The shelves are full again at the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission — but staff say it’s only a matter of time before they’re empty once more.

According to mission leaders, the recent surge in holiday donations helped restock a pantry that was nearly depleted just months ago. However, with increasing demand and food box distributions beginning again on Monday, those supplies are expected to run out quickly.

“This will totally deplete,” said Scott Wolf, Development Director for the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission. Wolf explained that he has seen the pantry go from completely full to empty in a single day, underscoring how quickly resources are used to meet community needs.

The mission currently serves about 1,000 meals each day, assisting not only individuals experiencing homelessness but also hundreds of families, many with young children. While the community traditionally steps up during the holiday season, Wolf emphasized that the need does not disappear once the holidays end.

“Our pantry looks good now,” Wolf said, “but probably within a couple of weeks, as more and more people are coming every week for food boxes and more people are being served here at the Rescue Mission, it’s going to start to be a struggle again, like it was just a few months ago.”

Over the past three to four months, the mission has seen a steady increase in the number of people seeking help. Wolf attributes this rise to multiple factors, including economic challenges, changes to SNAP benefits, and job instability affecting local families.

As the organization heads into the new year, leaders are already setting goals for 2026, anticipating they will need to serve more people than ever before.

“Just like the rest of the nonprofits, we all need to come together,” Wolf said. “We need to focus on what we do best and make sure that we’re serving our communities effectively.”

The mission encourages continued donations of food items, particularly canned goods and other non-perishables. Those interested in donating or learning more about how to help can find additional information through the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission website.