Food Samaritans (AAP) announced that it has created a new alliance with Desert AIDS Project (D.A.P.) in which AAP will now lead the nutrition programs for both organizations. Under the terms of the agreement, AAP will continue to supply monthly food vouchers to its clients but these will now be distributed (along with a monthly supply of fresh food) at the Morris & Lila Linsky Food Annex at the Greenburg Peet Campus. This gives AAP clients the opportunity to access other services provided at the campus, including those provided by D.A.P. AAP will lead and oversee all nutritional programs for both organizations. The program will be called the AAP – Food Samaritans Nutrition Program and will be implemented starting September 1.
“We are very excited to enter this new alliance with Desert AIDS Project, one of the most well respected service organizations in the Coachella Valley,” said Mark Anton, CEO/Executive Director of AAP – Food Samaritans. “This alliance between our two organizations will benefit AAP clients in many ways. The Greenburg Peet Campus is on a Sunline bus route and has ample parking, and AAP clients will be able to now easily access D.A.P.’s services including counseling, primary medical care, HIV-specialty care, case management, and more.”
The AAP monthly food voucher distribution location will change from the AAP office to be at the Greenburg Peet Campus (starting September 1). In addition to the Food Annex, this campus is home to D.A.P.’s Federally Qualified Health Center which provides medical, dental, behavioral health services, social services, a clinical lab, STD testing and a housing program, as well as the Riverside County Federally Qualified Health Center and the WIC program.
“For several years, AAP and D.A.P. have been working on a strategic way to consolidate efforts and minimize any duplication of services,” said David Brinkman Desert AIDS Project CEO. “AAP-Food Samaritans has more than 26 years of experience supplying nutritional support to the community, so it makes sense that they will now lead the nutritional support program for both or these organizations.”
AAP – Food Samaritans is also in discussion with ACT for MS to manage a nutritional support program for their clients that are unable to feed themselves. The details of this agreement are currently under negotiation and will be released soon. In addition to the D.A.P. and ACT for MS alliances, AAP also announced that it is in the process of moving people off its waiting list and is also in the process of expanding its client base to accept new clients.
“Building on the philosophy of our founders, in 2015 we announced our intention to expand our mission to serve others in the greater Palm Springs community who are living with serious illnesses such as cancer, MS, heart or liver disease, among others,” added Anton. “As we expanded our services, we also subtly updated our organization name to AAP – Food Samaritans to reflect our evolving mission to ensure that everyone in our community facing chronic illness and food insecurity can continue to live their lives with dignity and self-respect.”
