Donors and supporters convened at Mizell Center in Palm Springs Nov. 2 to reveal the fruits of the nonprofit’s long-awaited kitchen expansion project. The newly expanded space will enable the nonprofit to serve significantly more area seniors through its vital Meals on Wheels nutrition program.
The project began in April 2022, when the center launched the Kitchen Expansion Capital Campaign, a fundraising endeavor that would enable the organization to significantly expand the footprint of its more than 70-year-old kitchen.
In November 2022 it was announced that the campaign had raised $1.3 million.
The original kitchen, at 642 square feet, required the staff of six to work shoulder-to-shoulder while preparing approximately 800 meals each weekday.
Architect Chris Mills, who designed the building’s 1991 expansion, was retained to reimagine the kitchen to meet today’s needs. He added nearly 1,200 square feet of workspace, expanding the kitchen to 1,834 square feet, and installed state-of-the-art energy-efficient appliances.
As the first senior center in the Coachella Valley, Mizell Center has been serving Greater Palm Springs for nearly 50 years.
About the Building
The city-owned building now known as Mizell Center began as Palm Springs Fire Station No. 2. Designed by John Porter Clark and built in 1951, it included a small kitchen. In the late 1980s the city permitted what was then known as the Palm Springs Senior Center to permanently take over the space. A capital campaign enabled the building’s footprint to be significantly enlarged to accommodate the needs of the senior center, however, the kitchen was left untouched. The redone building, opened in March 1991, has been in continuous use since, including the 70-plus year-old kitchen.
Principal donors who contributed to the Kitchen Expansion Capital Campaign include Norman Kerewsky, The Angel Charitable Trust, Carol Fragen, The H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, The Coeta and Donald F. Barker Foundation, Mary Mix Livingston and Cynthia and James Williams. Additional contributions came from the City of Palm Springs Measure J Commission and the Riverside County Office on Aging as well as from individual members and donors.
In honor of the lead donation from the Angel Charitable Trust, the kitchen and dining facility is now known as the Anastasia Angel Nutrition Center.