With tens of thousands of Coachella Valley residents on the verge of food insecurity due to the delay of federal food benefits, a local effort to help has gained momentum.
A food drive to benefit those in need initially started on the large Facebook community, “Gay Men of Palm Springs.” Although it began as a call to action in the private group, it has resulted in real-life benefits.
Member Jordan Muñoz came up with the idea after learning that millions of Californians would be impacted by cuts and delays to CalFresh benefits, the state’s version of SNAP.
“I personally love Palm Springs because it’s almost like Disneyland because it’s the greatest place in America,” he said in a phone interview with The Desert Sun. “I’ve been all around the world and it’s so rare to find that. I just felt like I had to do something.”
With Thanksgiving around the corner, Muñoz reached out to “Gay Men of Palm Springs” creator and moderator Raymond LaFleur to see if the group could help make a difference to local residents.
“I wasn’t really sure going in what the community response would be,” LaFleur said. “What’s happening with SNAP benefits is very visible. It’s gotten a lot of attention, so people are stepping up.”
A post in the Facebook group announcing the community food drive quickly gained attention, with many members sharing and pledging support.
Saffron Restaurant and Lounge, located at 1107 N. Palm Canyon Dr. in Palm Springs, agreed to be the drop-off point for donations, and bags of food have already begun to show up.
“Unfortunately our community needs us right now,” said restaurant co-owner Ashley Stein. “It’s only right to be there. This community has accepted me right away, so the right thing to do is to give back.”
The Community Food Bank at the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert will be the beneficiary of the donations.
It and other food banks across the Coachella Valley expect an influx of clients following the reduction of food benefits during the extended government shutdown.
The administration of President Donald Trump has used SNAP benefits as a bargaining chip during negotiations to reopen the government, which has been closed since Oct. 1. The president initially indicated SNAP beneficiaries would not receive funds until the government opened again.
That would mean 37,500 Coachella Valley residents would go without their usual benefits, part of the 42 million Americans who use the program.
FIND Food Bank, which provides food to most of the local food banks throughout the valley, has been bracing for a surge in demand.
A federal court order required the government to tap into contingency funds to keep the program going in November, but a Trump said on social media on Tuesday the benefits would only be given out after the government reopens.
The situation remains so fluid the White House had to later clarify that the government would comply with the court order. However, the Trump Administration has previously said that benefits will be halved for this month.
“I didn’t think it would go anywhere,” Muñoz said. “I didn’t think we’d have a grand outpouring of all this food being dropped off. I just thought if we could get a few bags of food, that would be amazing.”
Food can be dropped off from 4 to 8 p.m. at Saffron, and the drive will run until Nov. 23.
Sam Morgen covers the city of Palm Springs for The Desert Sun. Reach him at smorgen@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs food drive launched amid SNAP cuts, government shutdown
Reporting by Sam Morgen, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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