Giving roundup: East Valley housing, Street Medicine, pineapple pancakes and more

Here's a quick look at what's happening with some of our local nonprofits.

CV Rescue Mission unveils art gift from prominent local artists

The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, in partnership with Palm Springs artists Marconi Calindas and Jeff Howe, unveiled “Joy,” a vibrant colorful art piece in the Women’s and Family Shelter on Oct. 12.

“We are so incredibly grateful to the artists for this special gift,” said CVRM Executive Director Darla Burkett. “This art piece represents the joy and love of life and the dreams we hope to inspire in the children and mothers we serve to move towards a better future.”

Award-winning artist Calindas is famous for his bold colorful rendering style, primarily acrylic on canvas. His subject matter varies from pop icons to triumphs of the human spirit.

The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission provides food, clothing, and safe shelter to anyone in need. Additionally, CVRM helps people end their cycle of homelessness with extensive counseling; job training in eight different job descriptions, including retail and catering skills; and housing assistance.

For more information about the Mission, visit cvrm.org.

Pueblo Unido shows off affordable housing model for East Valley farmers

Pueblo Unido CDC (PUCDC), with support from a $75,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation as part of its Welcome Home initiative, celebrated completion of the first Polanco community-designed affordable housing demonstration for the nonprofit’s Rural Habitat: AgriHousing Program for essential farmworkers on Oct. 7 at the Benitez Polanco Park in Thermal.

The Eastern Coachella Valley has long suffered from an affordable housing crisis. In 2021, PUCDC actively engaged farmworker families to identify their affordable housing needs.

“Those who suffer most from the lack of equitable affordable housing are poverty-level farmworker families living in dilapidated 40-year-old mobile homes they can’t afford to repair or replace,” said Sergio Carranza, PUCDC Executive Director.

Features of the affordable housing single-family residence model include 1,050 square feet with an open concept living room, kitchen and dining area, two full bathrooms, three bedrooms, point of entry reverse osmosis water filtration, photovoltaic solar system and energy efficient home cooling.

For 15 years, through advocacy, public policy and community-driven projects, PUCDC has improved the quality of life for ECV farmworker families. pucdc.org

Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic boosts local education with music grants

Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic, a nonprofit organization serving the Coachella Valley for 50 years, will award $50,000 in grants through their Music Grant Fund to support music education in local schools.

“The value of incorporating music into a child's education cannot be understated,” said Karen Cornett, a member of the Palm Springs Unified School District Board of Education, via press release. “There is clear evidence that an education rich in music not only improves students' cognitive function and academic performance but also teaches important soft skills such as teamwork, perseverance and discipline. Simply put, children learn better when music is part of their school curriculum. We are grateful to the PSFP for this special opportunity.”

Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic is one of the world’s premier concert presenters of classical music, providing an annual series of internationally acclaimed symphony orchestra performances to the Coachella Valley. The nonprofit also fosters music appreciation for local youth and encourages promising young musicians through scholarships, education and instrument donation programs. psphil.org

Pineapple upside down pancakes raise funds for LGBTQ+ center

Breakfast Republic recently celebrated its new arrival in Palm Desert by giving back to its new community. The eatery, which has 17 locations across Southern California, is committed to using its brunch haven to create a positive impact. During the month of September, the restaurant chain partnered with The LGBT Community Center of the Desert to raise funds and awareness for the LGBTQ+ community.

Breakfast Republic's commitment to making a difference led it to channel 100% of sales from its mouthwatering pineapple upside down pancakes to The Center. Thanks to the support of local foodies and breakfast lovers, the restaurant sold 86 pineapple upside down pancakes, raising an impressive $860 for The Center of the Desert.

In addition, the Breakfast Republic team made a personal contribution, donating a total of $1,250 to The Center to support positive change. Breakfast Republic is excited about its journey in Palm Desert and looks forward to working alongside The LGBT Community Center of the Desert to raise even more funds and awareness for the LGBTQ+ community. breakfastrepublic.com, thecentercv.org

CSUSB Street Medicine program receives grant from Houston Family Foundation

The Houston Family Foundation has awarded a $160,000 grant to the Nursing Street Medicine program at Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus.

The funding will play a pivotal role in allowing the program to continue providing free health care services to unsheltered, sheltered and vulnerable populations in the Coachella Valley, and in partnership with other organizations, to continue providing behavioral health assessments, testing and medication administration.

CSUSB students gain valuable experience assisting with the assessment and testing in the field, and services offered would increase approvals for clients with disability for mental health disorders.

“We are so honored to be chosen by the Houston Family Foundation once again to expand behavioral health services in the Coachella Valley, working with the Desert Healthcare District, the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, the Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine and other organizations,” Vines said. “We will continue to educate our future valley nurses on how to work with these vulnerable populations with empathy and skill.”

Contact Diane Vines at diane.vines@csusb.edu for more information about the CSUSB Nursing Street Medicine program. To learn more about the Houston Family Foundation, visit houstonfamilyfoundation.com.

You might just win big with LifeStream’s Dream Raffle

Tickets for LifeStream’s fourth annual Dream Raffle are on sale now through Oct. 31.

This year’s grand prize winner may choose between a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport or $25,000 cash. Other major prizes include a Palm Springs getaway at the new Palm Springs Drift Hotel and a sight and sound package, which includes a 70-inch smart TV and sound bar system.

A maximum of 1,000 tickets will be sold. If less than 1,000 tickets are sold, the grand prize will be $15,000. Tickets cost $100 each and may be purchased by calling (909) 386-6929 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, by mail or fax. Visit lstream.org/raffle to download the entry form and check out the complete list of prizes, payment options and official rules.

Proceeds will be used to build two 1,300 cubic-foot walk-in freezers in LifeStream’s laboratory where blood products are tested and stored. The large walk-in freezer costs approximately $150,000 each.

LifeStream is a nonprofit local comprehensive blood bank that provides blood products and services to more than 80 Southern California hospitals in six counties. For more information, call (800) 879-4484 or visit lstream.org.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: East Valley housing, Street Medicine, pineapple pancakes and more