Coachella Valley, CA: Local Restaurant owner Mario Del Guidice has been serving the Coachella Valley delicious food since he moved his family here in 1972 and opened his first Mario’s location. The tradition has now spanned three generations of restaurateurs, and expanded across the entire Coachella Valley.  But the family has become known for another tradition as well, generously serving their community.

Mario does not consider himself a hero, he prefers to think of himself as a community minded person.  In his own words, “God has blessed me and my family with the ability to give back to this community that has supported my seven Mario’s Family Italian Restaurants throughout the valley for many years.”

Giving is not new to Mario, he has hosted fundraisers for schools and organizations throughout the valley for many years. The current COVID-19 crises has created a new need, and Mario has responded. Recently, Mario acquired 105,000 desperately needed surgical gloves and donated them to major medical facilities throughout the valley. They were divided between Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage, Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, JFK Hospital in Indio, and Borrego Health Care Clinics throughout the valley.

In addition, he started what he refers to as his “Mario’s Community Monday” where he supplies a minimum of 1,000 meals a week to those in need.  The meals help nourish First Responders and medical front line workers, physicians and nurses at the various hospitals, some of the clinics mentioned above, as well as the National Guard operating at the Food Bank and the Indio Fair Grounds Federal Medical Center. So far, he has delivered over 5,040 meals and is committed to do so as long as he can until this terrible pandemic is under control.

This has been a team effort by Mario’s family and employees along with cooperation from the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission (CVRM), Street Life Project, The Narrow Door, St. John’s, NCIC2, Destiny Church, Mayor Linda Evans of La Quinta, and Mayor Glenn Miller of Indio, with coordination efforts by Marianne Burton of the GCVCC.

“I am grateful we could do this and I hope many more join in and do what they can to help beat this nasty virus,” says Mario. 

“God Bless – Stay Safe – Ciao”