title
Receive a presentation from the County Administrator's Office and the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano highlighting the benefits of participating in the annual Counties Care Holiday Food Fight challenge to the residents of Contra Costa and Solano Counties; and Consider adopting a resolution challenging Contra Costa County to participate in the twenty second-annual competition
body
Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The County Administrator’s Office recommends that the Board of Supervisors receive a presentation from the County Administrator's Office and the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano highlighting the benefits of participating in the annual Counties Care Holiday Food Fight challenge to the residents of Contra Costa and Solano Counties; and consider adopting a resolution challenging Contra Costa County to participate in the twenty second-annual competition.
SUMMARY:
Solano and Contra Costa Counties, working with the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano (Food Bank), have been participating in an annual counties care holiday food fight friendly challenge since 2004 when the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors extended the first challenge to Solano County. This will be the twenty-second anniversary of this annual event to raise funds for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano.
The event allows employees at both counties the opportunity to help those in need in their respective counties through financial donations as food insecurity and hunger are a continuing and growing concern in both counties and throughout California. Over the past 21 years of the Counties Care Food Fight, employees from both Counties, including public donations total more than $2.6 million to the Food Bank.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no cost associated with accepting the resolution challenging Contra Costa County to participate in the 2025 Counties Care Holiday Food Fight friendly challenge. If adopted by the Solano County Board of Supervisors, staff time of departmental food fund drive coordinators will be borne by the individual County departments involved in the drive.
DISCUSSION:
The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano distributes millions of pounds of food each year through an extensive network of nonprofit partners. In 2024 alone, the Food Bank distributed approximately 39 million pounds of food, including 15 million in Solano County. Working with more than 240 partner organizations, including food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, senior and childcare centers, and group homes, the Food Bank reaches over 65,000 households each month, including 26,000 in Solano County, through direct distributions and community partnerships. Each month, the organization provides more than 2.7 million meals and serves residents more than 390,000 times through its various programs.
This would be the twenty-second anniversary of the Counties Care Holiday Food Fight friendly challenge if the Solano County Board of Supervisors authorizes Solano County to participate against Costa County Board of Supervisors and their employees. To date, Solano County has won the Big Apple trophy 13 times and Contra Costa County has won the trophy eight times over the 21-year history of the challenge.
In 2012 and 2013, Solano County won the friendly food fight and held the ‘Big Apple Trophy.’ In 2014 and 2015 the trophy returned to Contra Costa. In 2016, 2017 and 2018 the trophy remained with Solano County. Contra Costa County employees broke Solano County’s three-year winning streak, taking home the Big Apple trophy for 2019. In 2020, Solano County regained control of the Big Apply trophy, and has held on to it for 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, with Solano County employees donating an average of $19.78 per-person.
On October 28, 2025, Caitlin Sly, President and Chief Executive Officer for Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, will present to the Solano County Board of Supervisors, urging them to participate in the twenty-second-annual Counties Care Holiday Food Fight. If accepted by both Solano County and Contra Costa Counties, the 2025 Counties Care Holiday Food Fight will commence on Monday, November 17 and run through December 31, 2025.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to challenge the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and employees this year, but this is not recommended as Solano County won the food drive challenge last year and this would allow Solano County an opportunity to maintain the title. More importantly, while providing for some fun and friendly competition, the counties care holiday food fight provides financial donations for the Food Bank to purchase food for the needy and hungry in the counties of Contra Costa and Solano.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano will be coordinating the competition efforts with the counties of Contra Costa and Solano to conduct this food drive.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION