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Merissas Address: 13744 Choco Road, Apple Valley, CA

CashApp & Venmo: Merissastable

A front-yard cabinet and a mini fridge changed how our corner of Apple Valley fights hunger. When headlines about a government shutdown put SNAP benefits in doubt, Merissa and her mom didn’t wait for a fix. They rolled a cabinet to the driveway, stocked it with pantry staples, and quietly invited neighbors to take what they needed and leave what they could. That simple move sparked a daily exchange: one to three donors most days, six to eight families picking up food, and a living snapshot of what food insecurity really looks like in the High Desert.

We walk through the origin story and the logistics that keep the shelves useful: why bread, peanut butter, jelly, pancake mix, and kid-friendly snacks disappear fastest; how a donated mini fridge opened the door to milk, eggs, and cheese; and the choices behind location, shade, and privacy to protect people and food. Marissa also shares how she balances variety with a separate donations box and why candid tracking of monetary gifts builds trust. The Thanksgiving chapter hits hard—twelve planned meal bags grew into full dinners with turkeys after a last-minute donor stepped up at the Costco checkout, proving how one generous act can scale a grassroots effort overnight.

The conversation stays grounded and nonpartisan: help first, labels later. We talk about zero safety incidents, respectful neighbors, and what it would take to grow into a nonprofit that can partner with local stores and sustain a steady pipeline of staples. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn concern into action, this story offers a blueprint—practical, transparent, and focused on dignity.

Want to be part of it? Bring bread, PB&J, kid snacks, eggs, milk, and cheese. Share the story so families know where to go. And if you found this meaningful, subscribe, leave a review, and pass this along to a friend who cares about community solutions that actually feed people.

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