Our Needs and Goals
Most of our funding comes directly from donations within our community. Often, the funds raised through donations during the operations of our programs do not cover the expenses to operate those programs. We have held several successful local fundraising dinners that helped cover expenses of our programs. We also have to thank various individuals and entities within our community that not only donate funds, but also resources that enable us to have successful fundraisers. Additionally, our volunteers and directors donate their time, professional services, resources, and funds to meet our goals.
Donations have allowed us to expand the programs we offer and the frequency of those programs to the community. Making the best use of your donations is the responsibility of our board of directors.
Fuel
Fuel is our largest expense. Being a remote rural desert community, bringing donated food and goods into our community requires a lot of fuel. Our partner High Desert Second Chance establishing a distribution hub in Barstow has significantly reduced our fuel expenditures for the Food Distribution Program. To maintain our existing programs and expand, fuel expenses will likely continue to increase.
We need funding for fuel. Our annual budget for fuel is $3,600 to operate at our current capacity. Increased funding for fuel would enable us to reach more opportunities to bring donated food and goods into our community.
Fundraising
Fundraising is our second largest expense. Our fundraising dinners have been successful in growing funding to operate our programs, but they require a capital purchase of the food we prepare. Purchasing booths during festivals is a fundraising expense that brings in donations as well as informs the community about our programs.
Operational and Office
Our third largest expense is Operational and Office expenses. Having a website was necessary to enable digital fundraising, and to inform the public about our programs, but also to run our office for the organization through the Google for Nonprofits program. This is an annual expense. Additionally, filing fees and permit requirements are expenses that run into the hundreds of dollars each year. We also carry Food Insurance for our programs.
We also had a small expenditure of craft supplies that were purchased for the community to make holiday cards that were delivered to veterans living in the Barstow Veterans Home, as part of our Outreach Program.
In order to continue operations, filing fees, permits, insurance, and website make up our annual budget of $1000.
Vehicles
As an organization we have no vehicles. Our volunteers use their personal vehicles to pick up donated food and goods, and to make deliveries to homebound residents. Vehicle issues have required cancellation of Food Distributions and restrict the ability we have to bring assistance to our community. In 2024, a vehicle we had been using caught fire on the interstate and was a total loss. We are in need of multiple vehicles such as
A refrigerated truck to transport food.
A trailer to transport food and goods.
A truck to pull a trailer to transport food and goods.
An off road capable vehicle for delivering food and welfare checks.
A fuel efficient vehicle for business use.
A vehicle donation can either be used by the charity, sold by the charity for funds, or given to a person in need in whole or with a charitable discount. The writeoff for your donated vehicle depends on how the charity makes use of it.
Freezers
We are over capacity of the freezers we currently have. Most of our freezers are only operating for a few days each month. For the few days they are in use, we barely have enough storage capacity for the food sent to us, and certainly no room to grow. We are in need of lockable freezers.
Phones
We need a single dedicated phone for our organization. Currently our listed number is a personal phone of a director. We need a physical phone and a dedicated number that can be passed between directors as needed. Multiple phones, with a discounted service plan for non-profits would be ideal..The budget for service for a phone is $1200 per year.
Radios
We have a budget request of $350 for emergency radios to be able to respond in emergency situations when there is a loss of communications or electricity. We need radios to do welfare checks on homebound residents and for responding to emergencies with food or supplies, or for coordination within the community radio network.
Emergency Response Supplies
We always have some food available to assist in an emergency situation. We need Emergency Response items that can complement such as MREs, First Aid Kits, Emergency Water, dried food, etc.
Carts and Dollies
We inherited some old equipment, and some volunteers bring their personal equipment when we need to move large amounts of food and goods. We would make use of any kinds of dollies, bagboy carts, heavy duty carts, and a pallet jack.
Bags and Boxes
We always encourage the community to bring their bags to our food distribution programs. We reuse boxes as often as possible including reusing boxes from our local businesses to pack Commodities Distributions. We are always in need of bags and boxes for distributing food to the community.
Our Vision
Beyond our immediate needs, we have a long term plan with goals to serve our community that you can help make happen.
Land
We do not have a facility of our own, yet. We currently have reserved space at our Community Services District building to store food and goods. We are currently at maximum capacity for storage. We served nearly 150 Thanksgiving meals for free to the residents of our community outside, in a parking lot in November, because there isn’t a facility available in our community that can prepare food and serve that many people. A suitable parcel of land in Newberry Springs that is reasonably accessible to the community would be a starting point to obtaining a building to operate the organization and our programs for the community.
Building
Our vision for a building includes a small amount of office space for administrative duties, a small conference room, a commercial kitchen, dining room, large freezer, large refrigerator, large dry storage, warehouse space, laundry facilities, showers, thrift store, farmers’ market, and classrooms. A facility would also require security, technology, and staff. We also propose an on site tiny home village for veteran soldiers transitioning to civilian life. All buildings would take advantage of solar energy to reduce costs. Our building has to be large enough to support 600 households living in poverty within our community today, and be able to accommodate any growth going forward.
Technology
A digital world is upon us. Very rarely do people carry cash. We must provide the public with multiple payment processors so they may donate however they are most comfortable. That requires mobile internet connectivity at our fundraising events and programs. Satellite internet would also assist in emergency communications within our community, It could also provide a wifi hotspot within our community at a facility. Tablets can be used for digital registration during our programs doing away with excess paper. Laptops can be used for occupational training, televisit medical appointments, interviews, or office work. Our organization currently has one laptop used as our office.
Barstow Warehouse
Warehouse space in Barstow. There have been multiple instances in which we have had to decline donations because we did not have the space to store it. We think operating a warehouse in Barstow and sharing space with other local organizations can help us share resources, and assist all of the organizations with storage and distribution of goods and food. This would be a substantial undertaking to ensure the safety and security of the facility and products for each organization involved. Anticipated annual budget $100,000.
