Serving with Compassion

Desert Spring Community Resource Center (DSCRC) began in 2020 as a volunteer-led response by Desert Spring United Methodist Church (DSUMC) to the COVID-19 crisis.

What began as a Saturday drive-through grocery distribution soon revealed a broader need for connection, support, and practical help. In 2022, DSCRC became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit on the DSUMC campus, where it continues to serve neighbors through food access and social service referrals.

Today, community needs are greater than ever. To meet demand, DSUMC expanded the space on its campus, tripling the pantry’s size and adding a private office where staff can meet one-on-one with individuals and families seeking extra support.

The larger, new pantry was named Good Choice Pantry to reflect its client-choice model, which lets individuals and families choose the items that best fit their needs and preferences. Along with groceries, the pantry offers essential non-food items such as diapers, hygiene products, household supplies, and other basics when available. It also promotes healthier choices through Supporting Wellness at Pantries, a nationally recognized, evidence-based stoplight system based on the Nutrition Guidelines for the Charitable Food System.

DSCRC partners with Open Table Network to expand its impact through social service referrals. Using Open Table’s community-based model, trained volunteers provide consistent, relationship-centered support to vulnerable individuals. Rather than taking a transactional approach, the model builds social capital and encourages long-term self-sufficiency.

Although DSCRC was founded by the church community, it is not a faith-based organization. Its work is funded through grants, community and civic club donations, and fee-for-service contracts.