Palm Springs Neighborhoods Take On Summer Food Drive Challenge

Palm Springs neighborhoods are going head to head this summer to fight hunger in the Coachella Valley. The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert and ONE-PS kicked off the Community Food Drive Challenge Wednesday, a two-month competition running through August that pits neighborhood organizations against each other to see who can collect the most donations for the Center's Community Food Bank.

The timing isn't random. Summer is when the food bank sees the highest need and the lowest donations, according to the Center. A 2025 HARC Community Health Survey found one in four Coachella Valley adults has had to cut the size of meals or skip them entirely because they couldn't afford food, and one in ten went a full day without eating. The Community Food Bank hands out free groceries and pet food to more than 550 households a week, and staff say keeping the shelves stocked is a constant challenge.

"The ONE-PS Community Food Drive Challenge is an opportunity for Palm Springs residents to directly support community members facing hunger, including vulnerable individuals, families and seniors," said Charles Huff, director of food security at the Community Food Bank.

Neighborhoods can earn recognition in a few ways, including for donating the most food by weight, raising the most money, or running the most creative campaign. The top neighborhood overall takes home the Community Food Bank Silver Bowl, a traveling trophy that stays with the winning group for a year before heading back into competition.

Residents can drop off food and pet food at the Community Food Bank or at the Center, or donate online. For more information on how to give back during the drive, click here.