Food banks are a lifeline for people struggling with food insecurity. Food banks provide food to individuals, help seniors and families stretch their budgets, offer a helping hand to people who have hit a rough patch, and ensure our unhoused population has access to nourishment.
However, food-bank clients sometimes face challenges in effectively using the food they receive. These obstacles range from practical issues (like not having access to cookware, or not knowing how to cook) to more systemic barriers—and they all contribute to the complex nature of food insecurity.
I had the privilege of chatting with Charles Huff, the director of food security at the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, and Mitchell Battersby, chef and host of Neighbors Cooking on Facebook. They’ve come up with an innovative approach to address at least some of these barriers with humor and love, by creating weekly recipes highlighting the food being distributed.
The Community Food Bank at The Center, which offers food from 5 to 7 p.m. each Thursday at 610 S. Belardo Road, in Palm Springs, is committed to serving the needs of not just LGBTQ+ individuals and families, but anyone facing food insecurity here in the valley. Every week, a dedicated team of volunteers and staff from the Center assembles food boxes and distributes them to around 275 families in need.
“We do not discriminate against anyone based on sexual orientation, race or color,” Huff said. “We recently eliminated the waitlist for joining our food bank. If people want food and are hungry, they need it now, and the waiting list does not serve anybody.”
Many food-bank clients lack cooking skills or knowledge. They may not have had the opportunity to learn how to cook due to generational poverty, a lack of education, or other socioeconomic factors.
“When I moved to the valley, I utilized the Food Bank, so this is just one way I could give back,” Battersby told me. “Every week, Charles sends me the list of ingredients, and I start thinking about what I could make with it. We’re trying to use everything in the bag and give people some ideas on how to utilize what they receive without purchasing other items.” This process ensures the recipes are practical and tailored to the recipients’ needs.
Cultural knowledge can also provide a challenge with donated food.
“We were distributing boxes to our Coachella office that had two bunches of bok choy. The people just didn’t know how to use it,” Huff said. “Mitch’s recipes help give people an idea about what to do with the foods they aren’t familiar with.”
The recipes Battersby creates are distributed in every food box, and over the social media accounts of Battersby and the Center.
“I’ve had staff people and people in the community who have stopped me and said, ‘We saw the recipes Mitch put online, and I tried it,’ which helps us all feel more connected,” Huff said.
Huff doesn’t always know what will arrive on the truck until a few hours before distribution begins. The lion’s share of the perishable products come from FIND Food Bank, but other foods come from a variety of sources, including private citizens, community food drives, local grocery stores and bakeries; every week has its own challenges and surprises. This is where Battersby’s experience proves invaluable.
“There are often similarities from week to with each box, so I have an idea of what recipe I am going to write up, and then adjust things accordingly,” Battersby said. “We want to make sure people are getting nutritious and delicious foods, but also some variety in their diets.”
To find out more about the Community Food Bank at The Center, visit thecentercv.org. To find out more about Mitchell Battersby’s cooking show, visit facebook.com/NeighborsCooking.
