Pechanga Gives Boost To Murrieta Healthcare Workers, Taco Vendor

MURRIETA, CA — Staff of Southwest Riverside County hospitals enjoyed rice, beans, tacos or burritos, plus freshly baked Pechanga cookies, thanks to a recent donation from Pechanga.

Quiroz Tacos, owned by Delia and Alberto Quiroz of Perris, served over 2,750 meals to frontline workers, thanks to the donation. According to the couple, Pechanga's support of their business through the sponsorship proved the shot in the arm they desperately needed two years into the pandemic.

Alberto Quiroz spoke on what it means to them to have been hired by Pechanga to feed the hospital staff.

"My wife and I have been using our savings to pay bills and our team members," he said. "It's been tough to keep going."

The business has been slow for two years since the pandemic hit the area.

"Normally, we'd have lots of festivals and events booked by now, but we're nowhere near back to business levels we were before the pandemic," he said. "We're so grateful to Pechanga for booking us for this job to serve our local hospitals and their staff.

Though Pechanga could have provided food through their resort arm, Pechanga Development Corporation Board Member Ken Perez spoke on the heart behind partnering with the small, talented catering company.

"We thought about catering this ourselves, but the fact of the matter is this is a community event and we wanted to include local vendors because these people are working hard trying to make ends meet," Perez said. "It's not just about us, not just about the hospitals. It's about the entire community. We all serve here."

For the Southwest Healthcare Systems staff, the donation was a shot in the arm as well, according to CEO Jared Giles.

"Pechanga reached out to us and said what can we do for your staff," Giles said. "This means a lot to the staff here. They look forward to these things we're able to put on for them. We appreciate the concern and support from the community. It's been great over these last two years."

Pechanga spent over $20,000 to sponsor the meal program for hospitals in Temecula and Murrieta.

The workers at Rancho Springs Medical Center, Inland Valley Medical Center, Temecula Valley Hospital and Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta were all served during the event.

This is the second time Pechanga has sent taco trucks to local hospitals to provide comfort to frontline workers.

One year ago, Pechanga sponsored local food trucks to feed the staff at the same four hospitals.

Throughout the pandemic, Pechanga has worked to give back to the community in many forms.

Pechanga has gifted 3,000 N95 masks to local hospitals at the beginning of the pandemic, donating a massive financial contribution to the local Rady Children's Hospital and donating funds, food, toys and hygiene products for local and regional charities.

For more information on what Pechanga has been doing to help during the pandemic, visit www.pechanga.com/community-outreach-during-pandemic.