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City approves temporary monthly support for Hope Center food distribution
Summary
The City of Twentynine Palms approved a temporary allocation of $2,000 per month to support the Hope Center's weekly food distributions after council members heard that the group serves about 500–800 people per month and is spending roughly $3,000 monthly to operate.
The City of Twentynine Palms City Council voted 5-0 on Feb. 11 to provide temporary monthly funding to support the Hope Center’s Feed the Need food-distribution program.
The motion, approved unanimously, allocated $2,000 per month between the meeting date and the city’s next budget adoption period (council referenced reassessment in May–June). The council indicated the funds could be drawn from previously authorized but unspent allocations for homeless-services planning and portable-showers funding; staff noted a combined pool of $47,000 was available from those prior approvals.
Why it matters: Hope Center volunteers told the council they provide weekly Tuesday distributions, rely on county and regional food-donation programs and private 501(c)(3) fundraising, and serve hundreds of households. Council members described the allocation as short-term assistance while longer-term budget and strategic-planning discussions proceed.
What speakers said
- Perry Ford, a long-time Twentynine Palms resident and Hope Center representative, told the council the operation has run about 14 years under a 501(c)(3) and that the group “are spending on average about $3,000 a month because we have to pay for the truck to go down, the gas, the drivers, pay for the food.”
- Sylvester Cullimon (Sanctuary Church, Hope Center Feed the Need volunteer) said the program distributes USDA and donated food every Tuesday and that, on average, the program serves “between 500 to 800 people per month.”
- Councilmember Mintz proposed a short-term allocation to bridge the group to the city’s budget process; after discussion Councilmember Mintz’s motion (seconded by another councilmember) to provide $2,000 per month until May/June carried 5-0.
Funding source and next steps
City staff said two prior council allocations — $32,000 for a general resource-center concept and $15,000 for portable showers — together total $47,000; staff advised the council those previously approved funds could be repurposed for short-term support. Councilmembers said they expect to revisit longer-term funding and coordination during the city’s upcoming budget and strategic-planning process.
Public comments and coordination
Multiple residents and volunteers spoke in favor of supporting the Hope Center and described it as a longstanding local nonprofit operation. Commenters asked how long the support would last, whether food-distribution efforts could be consolidated among local pantries, and whether the city could offer a more centrally located distribution site with refrigerated storage. Hope Center representatives said refrigeration and staging logistics limit site options, and that the group already uses county donation networks (Fine/fee programs and USDA pickups in San Bernardino and Indio) that require scheduling and occasional paid delivery.
Formal action
The council’s motion allocated $2,000 per month between the meeting date and May/June with staff direction to assess longer-term budget options; the motion passed 5-0.
Ending: Councilmembers urged the Hope Center to continue coordinating with other local providers and advised staff to include the group in upcoming budget and strategic-planning outreach.
