Gala To Support Coachella Valley Residents With HIV/AIDS Canceled

PALM SPRINGS, CA — A nonprofit that provides nutritional support for low-income people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses announced Thursday it has canceled its annual gala.

AAP-Food Samaritans canceled its 27th annual Evening Under the Stars gala because of supply chain issues, according to Executive Director Mark Anton. The event, initially scheduled for April 30, has not been held for two years due to the COVID pandemic.

"I've made the difficult decision to cancel our 2022 gala, Evening Under the Stars. Everyone had hoped that this would be the year to bring it back after the cancellations due to COVID for the last two years," said Anton. "The cumulative effects of supply chain issues, labor shortages, food cost increases, and other factors have driven the expenses for the event into the stratosphere. The catering alone for our traditional formal seated dinner has risen a staggering 43 percent, and all of our other costs have risen similarly."

Refund requests will be honored, however, Anton asked that ticket holders instead consider donating their tickets to allow the organization to continue doing their work.

The origination plans to hold the gala at an unspecified date next spring. For more information, go to aapfoodsamaritans.org.