Nathália Teixeira Special To This Newspaper
EL CENTRO — Earlier this year, the Cancer Resource Center of the Desert (CRCD) in El Centro faced the painful reality of shutting down, leaving Imperial Valley residents without their only nonprofit dedicated solely to guiding cancer patients through the complex journey of treatment and care.
On March 28, CRCD closed its office after struggling with delayed Medi-Cal reimbursements, missed grant funding, and the loss of promised donations. For patients already navigating the fear of a cancer diagnosis, the closure felt devastating.
“We had to notify them a couple of weeks before,” said Helen Palomino, licensed clinical social worker and secretary of CRCD’s board. “Many of our community members have low literacy levels, making it even harder to navigate medical systems. Knowing that, and then having to tell them we could no longer help, was heartbreaking.”
Yet just months later, the center has announced its reopening — a revival made possible by grassroots support, county leadership, and an unexpected partnership with Pear Suite, a health technology company.
A perfect storm of challenges
The financial storm that hit CRCD in 2024 was multifaceted: two major grants fell through, Medi-Cal provider approval dragged on longer than expected, and reimbursements were delayed for months. By February 28, 2025, the board made the difficult decision to lay off staff, and a month later, the office closed its doors.
“Our board members even provided personal funding to cover staff salaries, but it wasn’t enough,” Palomino recalled. “We thought we were going to dissolve.”
The turning point came with Pear Suite, a California-based platform that helps community-based organizations navigate billing and reimbursement with health plans.
“CRCD was initially just using spreadsheets and documenting everything manually,” explained Colby Takeda, Pear Suite CEO. “We came in to give them tools to be more effective, get paid for their work, and reduce the burden of complicated billing processes.”
By the end of April, Pear Suite was processing CRCD’s invoicing electronically, slashing reimbursement wait times from months to as little as two weeks. This change brought in more than $145,000 in overdue payments, stabilizing the organization’s finances.
“They were amazing,” Palomino said. “Their service really changed the game. It allowed us to reconsider reopening.”
Community steps in
At the same time, the community mobilized. Imperial County Supervisor Martha Singh reached out after hearing from residents, urging CRCD not to close permanently.
“She told me, ‘The community needs you,’” Palomino said. “From there, she helped us meet with representatives and health providers, and donations began coming in.”
Private donors, local organizations, and healthcare partners rallied, providing enough financial support for CRCD to cancel its termination of contract with Medi-Cal and officially reopen on August 1.
What reopening means
While CRCD is operating on a leaner budget, its mission remains the same: to support anyone in Imperial County diagnosed with cancer, whether they receive treatment locally or travel to San Diego, Palm Desert or Los Angeles.
“Our commitment is to help people understand their treatment, connect with resources, and navigate the system,” Palomino said. “Cancer is overwhelming — even highly educated people don’t know where to start when they’re diagnosed. Our job is to provide clarity, dignity and support.”
Through programs like Enhanced Care Management and the Community Health Worker initiative, the center helps patients secure transportation, nutritional support and home care in addition to coordinating with doctors and insurance providers.
Takeda emphasized the importance of this work in rural communities: “In places like Imperial Valley, resources are limited. Organizations like CRCD are stepping up not just for patients, but for their families and neighbors too. They’re addressing everything from housing to transportation alongside cancer care.”
Looking ahead
To avoid repeating past financial struggles, CRCD has diversified its funding sources. Beyond Medi-Cal reimbursements, the center is now pursuing Medicare contracts, grants, research partnerships with UC San Diego and private donations. A major fundraiser, An Evening of Hope, is already scheduled for October.
The organization is also investing in sustainability by working closely with Pear Suite to implement full case management services, ensuring efficiency and compliance in the future.
“This experience has taught us to work smarter and more collaboratively,” Palomino said. “We’re smaller, but stronger.”
For patients across Imperial County, CRCD’s reopening means renewed access to critical support at one of the hardest moments of their lives.
