Designated Exceptional Service for Independence

Designated Exceptional Services for Independence (DESI) is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that provides emergency food assistance and skills training to low-income individuals and families in East Los Angeles and surrounding communities. Founded in 2008 to serve families with members who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, DESI expanded its mission in 2016 by opening its Extra Helpings food pantry, which now supports thousands of individuals monthly while also offering job coaching and workforce development programs.