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 first-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-first-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 twentieth 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 nineteen years of the Counties Care Food Fight, employees from both Counties, including public donations total more than $2.49 million to the Food Bank.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no cost associated with accepting the resolution challenging Contra Costa County to participate in the 2024 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. The cost of preparing the agenda item is nominal and absorbed the Department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano distributes approximately 10 million pounds of food annually throughout Solano County. Approximately 150,000 hungry people, including children and seniors, in Solano County are served by the Food Bank each month. Both perishable and non-perishable food is also provided to countless nonprofit agencies throughout the County such as food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, senior and childcare centers, and group homes.
The Food Bank’s mission is “leading the fight to end hunger, in partnership with our community and in service of our neighbors in need” and through continued community support, the Food Bank can accomplish this.
This would be the twenty-first anniversary of the 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 12 times and Contra Costa County has won the trophy eight times over the twenty-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 and 2023, with Solano County employees donating an average of $21.45 per-person.
On October 22, 2024, 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-first-annual Counties Care Holiday Food Fight. If accepted by both Solano County and Contra Costa Counties, the 2024 Counties Care Holiday Food Fight will commence on Monday, November 18 and run through December 31, 2024.
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. But more importantly, while providing for some fun and friendly competitions, 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