$25K Grant To Benefit Families Facing Homelessness

PALM DESERT, CA — Martha’s Village and Kitchen was recently presented with a $25,000 grant, courtesy of the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, that will be used to help those in need in the area to find a path to stable, permanent housing, according to officials.

The Coachella Valley Spotlight grant will allow Martha’s Family Shelter Program to add to its emergency housing, job training and service of meals that feed about 100 families each year.

"Martha’s has been an oasis of hope for the homeless and impoverished families and individuals since 1990, when it was only a small kitchen serving hot meals in Indio,” said Linda Barrack, CEO and President of Martha’s Village and Kitchen.

With donor and community support, Martha’s built and opened its 120-bed facility in 2001. Apartment-style living provides 24 spaces for families to stay together and 19 rooms for individuals, as they work toward stable living situations, the organization said.

“It’s wonderful that Martha’s services allow for families to live at the shelter together during such a trying time of facing homelessness and all the other stresses that accompany it,” said Catharine Reed, Program Director for the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation.

Martha’s, located at 83-791 Date Ave. in Indio, provides such support services as emergency housing, food, case management, childcare, health care, and a career and education center. Last year, Martha’s served more than 6,200 individuals with these varied programs.

Through the Coachella Valley Spotlight partnership with the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation and News Channel 3, Martha’s Village and Kitchen was featured on News Channel 3 programming including “Eye on the Desert” in public service announcements and on kesq.com throughout the month of August.

For more information visit www.marthasvillage.org or call 760-347-4741.

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