City of Palm Springs Office of Sustainability Partners with FIND Food Bank for the 1st annual “Rock Out to Knock Out Hunger”. Fundraiser Slated for Saturday, Sept. 28. Palm Springs Resident Jim Houston to Match Up to $10,000 Dollars in Donations
By Amy Blarsdell
September is Hunger Awareness Month and the City of Palm Springs is pleased to announce that Palm Springs resident Jim Houston, former owner of Desert Television, CBS Local 2 News, has offered to match up to $10,000 in donations raised at the 1st annual “Rock Out to Knock Out Hunger” Fundraiser & Dance Party, presented by the City of Palm Springs Office of Sustainability in partnership with CBS Local 2 News on Saturday, Sept. 28.
The fundraiser will kick off at 7 p.m. at Bar in downtown Palm Springs, 340 Palm Canyon Drive — and will feature rock tunes from popular Santa Monica-based cover band “Famous for Nothing.” In addition, there will be a silent auction from 7 – 8 p.m. and Palm Springs City Council member Paul Lewin will present a proclamation to Lisa Houston, CEO of FIND Food Bank in honor of Hunger Awareness Month at 7:45 p.m. followed by the dance party at 8 p.m.
Houston’s matching offer is good now through the end of September. Residents unable to attend Saturday’s fundraiser can make a $10 donation by visiting www.FINDFoodBank.org or text “FIND” to 2022.
The City’s Office of Sustainability will also open the $500 Edible Landscape Grant Program to local Palm Springs partners of FIND to plant fruit trees on their properties. The program is also open to city residents and HOA’s. For more information, visit www.yoursustainablecity.com.
Fundraiser attendees will be asked to donate a $10 cover charge at the door and bring canned food items to help feed the hungry as part of the City’s month-long food drive in support of Hunger Awareness Month.
Now through the end of September, residents will also have the opportunity to help feed those in need by dropping off canned food items in the lobby of Palm Springs City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way and the Palm Springs Public Library, 300 S. Sunrise Way.
“I want to thank the City of Palm Springs for taking the initiative during Hunger Awareness Month to help us feed the hungry and spread the word about the growing problem of food insecurity in our desert,” Houston said. “We believe it is vital for all cities to join together in a committed coalition to make the Coachella Valley a Hunger Free Zone – and this is a wonderful step.”
Houston added that even small donations to the food bank make a big difference to those in need and that a $1 donation equals seven meals while a $10 donation equals 70 meals.
Through a network of more than 100 community-based partners that include local soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, after school programs and senior centers, FIND Food Bank currently distributes more than 8 million pounds of food annually to more than 80,000 people per month in the Coachella Valley.
“The City of Palm Springs is committed to helping FIND Food Bank in its mission to wipe out food insecurity and truly make our valley a Hunger Free Zone,” said Mayor Steve Pougnet. “I want to thank Jim Houston for his incredible generosity and I challenge every resident in Palm Springs and the entire Coachella Valley to take part in Hunger Awareness Month, whether you donate your time, food or money, we are all in this together!”
