The pandemic has impacted all of our lives. For some, the impact has included financial hardship.

Currently, Three Square food bank estimates 18.2% of the people living in the zip code of the church (89144) are food insecure. This amounts to more than 3,500 people, and is almost double the number of people who were struggling prior to the pandemic.

Other zip codes near to the church report a similar story.

There are thousands of people who are financially struggling, some for the first time in their lives. 

- Purchase food to distribute to people in need

- Provide staff support to operate the Community Resource Center

- Provide additional financial and emotional support for families that are struggling

Desert Spring Church is called to help meet the need. Our plan is to do so through the Desert Spring Community Resource Center. 

In order to address the need for food as soon as possible, we will develop the Community Resource Center in phases.

Phase 1:

We will partner with Three  Square food bank to open a mobile food distribution location at Desert Spring Church. We will have two food distributions per month, held on Saturday mornings in the church parking lot. 

Families in need will be informed of the opportunity to receive free food through local schools, libraries, community centers and police departments.

Phase 2:

We will open a food pantry at Desert Spring Church in order to have food available for families who are unable to come to the scheduled Saturday food distributions. Days and hours the pantry will be open will be determined  by the needs of the families we  serve.

Phase 3:

We know that many people struggle with more than food insecurity at this time.

So, phase 3 will expand our assistance to meet additional needs. The types of assistance and programs that will be developed will be driven by the expressed needs of families who receive food through our pantry and Saturday distributions.