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Adopt a resolution challenging Contra Costa County to participate in the Counties Care 2017 “Peace, Love and Veggies Holiday Food Fight” friendly challenge to benefit the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
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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 adopt a resolution challenging Contra Costa County to participate in the Counties Care 2017 “Peace, Love and Veggies Holiday Food Fight” friendly challenge to benefit the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano.
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 fourteenth year 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. Last year’s combined county employees contributed a thirteen-year cumulative total of more than $1.23 million. With the friends of the food fight included, more than $1.62 million has been donated to the Food Bank.
In 2016, Solano County won the annual event with $12.74 contributed per employee and regained control of the “Big Apple” Trophy. As the holder of the “Big Apple,” Solano County challenges Contra Costa County to participate in the employee-to-employee 2017 Counties Care Holiday Food Fight friendly challenge to compete for possession of the “Big Apple.” This year’s theme is “Peace, Love and Veggies.”
If adopted by the Board, the resolution will be presented to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors at their November 14, 2017 meeting. If accepted by Contra Costa County, the Peace, Love and Veggies holiday food fight will commence on November 20 and run through December 31, 2017.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no cost associated with adopting the resolution challenging Contra Costa County to participate in the 2017 Counties Care Holiday Food Fight friendly challenge. If accepted by Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, staff time of departmental food fund drive coordinators will be borne by the individual County departments involved in the drive. Solano County employees have contributed more than $326,000 over the last thirteen years, and together, both counties have contributed more than $1.23 million to the Food Bank. In addition, non-employee “Friends of the Food Bank” in Solano County has resulted in a cumulative total of more than $38,000 in online donations during the annual county-to-county drive.
DISCUSSION:
The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano distributes approximately 7 million pounds of food annually throughout Solano County. Approximately 63,000 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 child care 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 is able to accomplish this.
This would be the fourteenth consecutive year for the Counties Care Holiday Food Fight friendly challenge if the Board authorizes Solano County to extend this friendly challenge to Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and employees. To date, Solano County has held the coveted “Big Apple” trophy six times, whereas Contra Costa County has held on to it eight times in the thirteen-year history of the food fight challenge.
This year, because of the devastating fires in Solano County and neighboring Napa and Sonoma Counties, there will likely be an increased demand on the Food Bank’s budget due to reduced access to produce, as well as the need to serve thousands of displaced people needing extra help as they work to regain some semblance of a normal life again. Employee contributions to the annual food fight give the Food Bank the ability to reach a greater number of individuals in need, especially at this time.
Solano County and Contra Costa County employees will strive, through their donations, to make their County the champion and holder of the “Big Apple.” Last year Solano County narrowly won the challenge with $12.74 contributed per employee and regained possession of the “Big Apple” trophy. Contra Costa County collected $11.40 per employee. This event raises funds for the Food Bank and allows employees in both counties an opportunity to help those in need in their respective county through financial donations. All funds raised in each county will be used to purchase food for the needy and hungry in each respective county.
On November 14, 2017, Larry Sly, Executive Director for Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, will present the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors with the Solano County resolution challenging them to the 2017 “Peace, Love and Veggies Holiday Food Fight.” If accepted, this year’s employee-to-employee food drive fund challenge will run from November 20 through December 31, 2017.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to challenge 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 Contra Costa County an opportunity to regain 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.