How Local Grocery Stores Are Helping Feed Hundreds of Coachella Valley Families Each Week

Every week, thousands of pounds of food that might otherwise be discarded are given a second chance to help families across the Coachella Valley.

Through a partnership with Feeding America, Food Now Pantry in Desert Hot Springs collects surplus food donations from local grocery stores and redistributes them to residents facing food insecurity.

The network includes dozens of participating stores that donate a variety of items, including fresh produce, dairy products, baked goods, and shelf-stable pantry staples.

Each morning, Food Now drivers travel throughout the valley, making scheduled pickups from participating grocery stores before bringing the donations back to the pantry.

One of those stops is the Vons in Desert Hot Springs, where carts of donated food are prepared before the Food Now truck arrives.

The route also includes Grocery Outlet, whose owners say donating food has become an important part of supporting the local community.

Once the donations arrive at Food Now, volunteers and staff sort, inspect, and package the food before it is distributed to hundreds of local families each week.

For Grocery Outlet and the other participating stores, the effort is about more than reducing food waste—it's about making sure surplus food reaches neighbors who need it most.

As the Food Now truck returns from another morning of pickups, it's a reminder that a routine grocery stop can have a lasting impact, helping transform food that might have gone to waste into meals for families throughout the community.