A Story of Community, Compassion, and Action

The Community Resource Center (CRC) and Food Bank in Borrego Springs were born out of urgent need and the spirit of neighbors helping neighbors.

In the early days of the pandemic, as businesses closed and paychecks stopped, Borrego Springs faced a crisis. Residents Anne and Jim Wermers, together with Thomas Fredericks, quickly realized the hardship families would face without steady income. Determined to help, they created a weekly food bank — purchasing food, organizing volunteers, and distributing essential items to anyone in need.

By May 2020, dozens of volunteers had joined the effort. All food had to be purchased and transported to Borrego Springs by volunteers, fueled by donations from community members who stepped up immediately and generously.

As the need grew — from helping 60 families a week to over 250 — it became clear the operation needed a formal structure. The Wermers and Fredericks partnered with Dan Wright, President of the Borrego Springs Youth and Senior Center, to bring the food bank under its nonprofit umbrella. They moved into a larger space, combined efforts with Martha Deichler’s high school food bank, and expanded services.

In recognition of its importance, the Borrego Valley Endowment Fund (BVEF) provided over $65,000 to support the CRC’s permanent establishment, covering rent and incorporation costs. Board Chair David Garmon reflected, “The pandemic exposed a need in our community for food and other basic services, and that need has not diminished.”

From the beginning, handwritten thank-you notes from Anne Wermers reminded every donor of the personal gratitude behind the effort. The CRC’s mission quickly grew beyond food: partnerships formed with local organizations, and classes, transportation services, and legal assistance followed.

As inaugural Board President Martha Deichler said, “The creation of the CRC is an incredible milestone for our community.” Today, the CRC continues to provide weekly food to over 250 families, and it remains financially reliant on the generosity of donors who believe in the power of community.

When you donate canned and packaged food today, you are not only helping fill holiday tables — you are continuing the story that began with a simple, powerful idea:

No one in Borrego Springs should go without.