A Food Desert in the Desert: How Feeding San Diego Is Addressing Rural Hunger

Published On: September 16th, 2025By Categories: Stories3.8 min read

Nestled in the desert landscape, surrounded by Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs is a food desert. This small, isolated town with only 3,500 full-time residents is an hour from the nearest affordable store. But every Tuesday from 11:30 to 4:30, the resource center holds the weekly food bank, with fresh produce from Feeding San Diego twice a month.

People waiting in line and a sign that says

Community members line up for the food distribution at the Borrego Springs Community Resource Center

Responding to the Needs of the Community

“We started the center during COVID because there was no place in town for people to go for resources,” explained Martha Deichler, the executive director of the Borrego Springs Resource Center. “People were suffering from loss of jobs and the lack of fresh produce and reasonably priced grocery stores in our town.”

Martha emphasized the need for the resource center and the biweekly delivery from Feeding San Diego.

“We are a little town. Easily 95% of our families all work. The backbone of our community are families working in agriculture, restaurants, golf courses, and resorts,” she said. “Grocery stores here are expensive, with limited deliveries. That’s why our food bank is so appreciated. The fresh produce from Feeding San Diego is the most prized thing people come here for. Kids eat apples before they even get in the car. Without Feeding San Diego, we would not have the consistency and quality of food our families rely on every week. It truly is a lifeline in this community.”

The Realities of Rural Hunger in the Desert

Mark Jorgensen has lived in Borrego Springs for 53 years. He retired as the superintendent of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in 2009 and now volunteers to support the community. He sees the need in the community each week.

A man with a white beard sitting in a room with boxes of produce

Mark Jorgensen, weekly volunteer

“I volunteer at the food bank every Tuesday,” he said. “We serve around 300 families, and many of the people I see here I’ve known for decades. They babysat my kids, we coached Little League together, our kids went through school and sports together. When 300 families come every Tuesday, that’s almost half our town in the summer. People wouldn’t wait in line in 105 or 110 degrees unless they needed it.”

“It gets hot here—sometimes up to 118. Waiting in line can be a little unbearable, but you learn to live with it,” John, a retiree who comes to the resource center every Tuesday for the food distribution. “It’s been a wonderful thing. When you’re on Social Security, it sure helps keep food on the table. Before this started, I’d go to Palm Springs once a month for groceries, and my bill would run $300 to $400. Since this pantry opened, it’s dropped to about $200 a month. That’s a very big help.”

A smiling man with white hair holding a melon

John, a retiree who attends the food distribution each week

A Community Coming Together

Rachelle has lived in Borrego Springs for about seven years and is proud of the community.

A woman wearing a San Diego Chargers shirt in a room with boxes of fresh produce

Rachelle at the weekly food distribution

“People here are just there for you when times are hard,” she explained. “There have been times I couldn’t pay my bills, and Martha has helped me. I’m working four jobs, but if I didn’t have help with the food, I’d be in a lot of trouble. The pantry is survival and community—everyone volunteers their time and is always smiling and willing to help. The food is always fresh, with great produce, meat, and sometimes eggs. To get to a regular grocery store is at least an hour away. These programs are needed. People need it to survive, and every little bit helps.”

Mark agreed with Rachelle’s view of the pantry.

“With rising food prices and government cutbacks, it’s even more essential,” he added. “We need more people fed, not less.”

Getting Food into Food Deserts

Feeding San Diego’s mobile pantry program is designed to provide nutritious, affordable food to areas with limited access, like Borrego Springs. We partner with many organizations, like the Community Resource Center, to help address rural hunger. By donating to Feeding San Diego, you help support critical resources like mobile pantries in food deserts. If you or someone you know needs food resources, use our Find Food Map to locate a food distribution near you.

Watch our recent video to meet more individuals helped by the Borrego Springs weekly food distribution.