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Friendly “Food Fight” is off to a good start!

December 9, 2010 By Kathy

The Counties Care Holiday Food Fight is off and running! After the first week, Solano County is in the lead collecting $3,043 or $1.24 per employee. Close behind is Contra Costa County at $7,929.87 or $1.21 per employee.

In this competition employees of both counties sell Food Bank Buy A Bags, hold raffles and bake sales, and collect donations from fellow employees anyway they can. The goal is to collect the most dollars per employee to win the competition and hold possession of the coveted Big Apple Trophy for one year! To donate, go to www.foodbankccs.org/events.

Thanks For Giving part 2

November 24, 2010 By Lisa

You won’t believe all the help we are getting this holiday season to ensure that families in our community are fed! Look at all the wonderful support that has come in during the last few days! It is amazing.

11/22/2010

142 pounds of assorted food – Sons of Italy

70 turkeys – various anonymous donors

612 pounds of assorted food – Mindy LaSala

165 pounds of assorted food – Monte Vista Men’s Water Polo, Alamo

253 pounds of assorted food – Ygnacio Valley Christian School, Concord

238 pounds of assorted food – Lovelace, Stojanovich & Vujnovich Families, Clayton

130 assorted food – Gary & Barbara Fouk, Orinda

249 pounds of assorted food – Judy Link, Jean Harris & Kim Link, Diablo

6 turkeys (106 pounds of) – Michael Stead Porsche, Walnut Creek

80 turkeys & 780 pounds of assorted food – Mike Diaz, Contra Costa Electric, Martinez

11/21/2010

45 turkeys – anonymous donors

1040 pounds of assorted food – 7 families, Danville

270 pounds of assorted food – anonymous

11/19/2010

35 turkeys – anonymous donors

10 turkeys – Rich Rudolph, Benicia

8 turkeys & 38 pounds of assorted food – John Wingo, Orinda

178 pounds of assorted food – Stephen Croft, Martinez

122 pounds of assorted food – George Ramos, Antioch

25 turkeys – Kate Shield, Gallo Sales Co., Hayward

143 pounds of assorted food – Myrtle Farm Montessori, Concord

4 turkeys – Dwayne Moore, Fairfield

405 pounds of assorted food – Bay Medic Ambulance, Concord

We also accept donations of non-perishable food items at many locations throughout the community, including all Safeway and Whole Foods Market stores and Travis Credit Union branches in Contra Costa and Solano counties. Many schools, community and religious organizations also sponsor food drives.

If you have perishable items to donate, you would need to bring it to either of our warehouses (addresses below). Please note we will be closed on Thanksgiving day and the Friday after.

Thanks for giving and making this holiday season a little brighter for our neighbors in need.

The Food Bank can accept food donations as follows:

Fairfield warehouse, 2339 Courage Drive, Suite F: Monday through Friday – 7:00 am – 3:30 pm;
Saturdays by appointment
Concord warehouse, 4010 Nelson Ave.: Monday, Friday, Saturday – 7:00 am – 3:30 pm;
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – 7:00 am – 7:00 pm

Thanks For Giving

November 24, 2010 By Lisa

This Thanksgiving season we are extremely grateful for the generous donations we are receiving from our community.

To distribute the 12.6 million pounds of food required to meet the current need, enough for more than 10 million meals, we rely on community support and donations.

“We know that many families have had to tighten their budgets,” says Sly, “but we hope the public will see how desperate the need is this year. Even small donations help.”

Overhead at the Food Bank, Sly notes, has been kept to an absolute minimum. 95 cents out of every donated dollar goes directly to food programs.

Financial donations allow the Food Bank to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables in addition to nonperishable food items, which are essential to providing nutritious food to those in need. Financial donations can be made at www.foodbankccs.org; or by mailing contributions to PO Box 6324, Concord, CA 94524.

We would like to thank those responsible for just some of the recent donations we have received.

Thank you to the 50^th class reunion of Harry Ells High School in Richmond for the donation of $750!

Harry Ells High School Reunion

We would also like to thank Len Hamernik of Martinez for the donation of 188 pounds of turkeys and 20 pounds of assorted food. Thank you to Mike Leischer for donating 25 turkeys and 61 pounds of assorted food last week.

We received 88 turkeys from Park Middle School in Antioch along with 1651 pounds of food and 26pounds of other meats. Thank you, Spartans!

The Handcrafted and Exotic Car Show in September raised $589.

Handcrafted and Exotic Car Show

IHOP held a special day before they officially opened and raised $1168 for the Food Bank. We appreciate all the support IHOP is giving the Food Bank!

IHOP Fundraiser

Without donations just like these, we would not be able to meet the need in our community. Thank you for helping us feed your neighbors in Contra Costa and Solano counties.

Raceway delivers more than three and a half tons of food

November 23, 2010 By Lisa

Infineon Raceway distributed more than 10,000 pounds of non-perishable food items to Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH) and the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano on Monday during the raceway’s 10th annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. 7,500 pounds made its way to the Food Bank’s new warehouse in Fairfield.

John Cardinale, Infineon Raceway's VP of Communications and Marketing, and his team deliver more than three and a half tons of food to the Food Bank's warehouse in Fairfield.

The amount marked the most Infineon Raceway has distributed in one year since the inception of the food drive in 2001. In total, The raceway has distributed more than 28,000 pounds of non-perishable food items to area food banks over the last 10 years.

FISH has been serving needy Sonoma Valley residents since 1970, while the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano has been serving the community for 35 years, providing food to more than 132,000 hungry people in need every month through a network of 200 charitable agencies.

“As far as donations go, it’s been a good season, but the need is way up this year,” said Lisa Sherrill, community relations manager for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. “We’re up 35 percent over where we were two years ago, in terms of requests for food. This donation from the raceway will be very helpful, that’s for sure.”

Infineon Raceway was not alone in its efforts. It was joined in the food drive by Innerstave; Pedroncelli Motorsports; tenants of the Infineon Raceway Motor Sports Industrial Park and Destination RKA in Windsor. Sonoma Gourmet of Cotati also made a generous donation of eight pallets of gourmet food items.

For more information about Infineon Raceway community events, call 800-870-RACE or visit www.infineonraceway.com.

Food Fight 2010

November 22, 2010 By Kathy

The annual Counties Care Holiday Food Fight enters its seventh year this year. Starting in 2003, Contra Costa County employees challenged Solano County employees to a Food Fight competition to raise funds for neighbors in their respective counties. The winning county was determined by the amount of funds raised per employee.

Funds are raised in a variety of ways including collecting donations for Food Bank Buy A Bags, holding bake sales, selling hot dogs, and any creative way county employees can think of to wrestle donations out of their fellow employees! The prize for the winning county is possession of and bragging rights to the coveted Big Apple trophy for one year.

Local radio stations including KUIC, KKDV, and Gene Burns at KGO pitch in to help promote the drive, encouraging listeners to donate as a “friend of the Food Bank”. This brings in additional funding to the Food Bank however these funds are not included in the employee competition.

Solano County takes home the Big Apple trophy in 2009.

A total of $668,553.90 has been donated to the Food Bank since Counties Care Holiday Food Fight’s inception!

Each county has won three times and Solano County took home the trophy last year. Although “friends of the Food Bank” donations do not help your county win the competition, your donation does help your neighbors in need win the fight against hunger.

The number of residents in both counties needing help with food grows daily. In 2009 the Food Bank provided food for over 108,000 residents per month. In 2010 that number has jumped to over 132,000. The need is great. Please make a donation today!

Did you leave a food donation on your porch?

November 21, 2010 By Guest

If you received a holiday food drive bag in your newspaper, the scouts will NOT be picking it up today (Saturday 11/20) unless they left a door hanger at your house last week. We are very sorry for the confusion. We are in need of the food and appreciate your generosity. Please take any nonperishable food donations to your local Safeway store or Travis Credit Union. You will see our bright red barrels near the entrance. Again, we apologize for the inconvenience.

Philanthropic Yoga Class

November 19, 2010 By Cassandra

More and more people and businesses are finding creative ways to benefit the Food Bank. Sometimes shaking things up pays off in a big way.

On the second floor of an industrial, concrete and metal building awaits an oasis: yogaworks. Angie Norwood and Colleen Millen, two certified yoga instructors, threw a fundraiser for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano aptly named, “Celebrate Your Life, Honor Another.” The philanthropic yoga class took place on Saturday, November 6th from noon to 1:30. Myself and two other staff members from the Food Bank made our way on a lazy Saturday to downtown Walnut Creek with the intention of donating some food and brushing up on our downward facing dog. We left feeling loose and relaxed, all stiffness and soreness curiously absent. Each of us learned a new technique (or two), received a truly enlightening Savasana, and were blown away by the generosity of the attendees. Many yogis brought more than the three required food items for admission. Collectively, yogaworks raised a total of 169 pounds of donated food! Many families will benefit from this generous giving. This is one more creative way to raise food.

Namaste,

Cassie Brislain, Agency Relations Coordinator

Scouting For Food

November 16, 2010 By Patty

Scouts across the Bay Area will be collecting food on this one day food drive called Scouting For Food. The weekend before they will have placed door hangers on homes that they will return to on Saturday, November 20. Simply put a bag of food out on your porch that morning for the scouts and they will deliver it to the Food Bank. If you do not receive a door hanger, you can still donate by bringing the food to your local Bay Area Food Bank or one of the locations listed below.

Drop-off sites

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

Antioch
Antioch LDS Church
3013 Rio Grande Drive, Antioch

Antioch LDS Stake Center
2350 Jeffery Way, Antioch

Brentwood
Brentwood LDS Church
1101 McClarren Road, Brentwood

Concord
Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
4010 Nelson Avenue

Farm Bureau Hall
5554 Clayton Road

Oak Grove LDS Church
2930 Treat Boulevard

Danville
Danville LDS Stake Center
655 Old Orchard Drive

Richmond
Hilltop LDS Church
4351 Hilltop Drive

Lafayette
Moraga LDS Church
3776 Via Granada

Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill LDS Church
555 Boyd Road

St. Mary Magdalen/ School
2005 Berryman Street, Berkeley

SOLANO COUNTY
Benicia
Benicia City Park
Second Street

Fairfield
Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
2339 Courage Drive, Suite F

Vallejo
Elks Lodge
2850 Redwood Parkway

Get your Santa Bucks now!

November 15, 2010 By Kathy

Looking for the perfect stocking stuffer? Want to help the Food Bank? Visit your local California Pacific Federal Credit Union to purchase real bankable, spendable Santa Dollars. $2.50 includes a gift card, envelope and Santa Dollar. Proceeds benefit the Food Bank! www.calpacfcu.org

Holiday Food and Fund Drives

February 17, 2010 By Renee

Take a look at just some of the many ways the community supported the Food Bank during the Holiday Season. Please browse our blog to see other ways individuals, businesses and groups have been helping the Food Bank.

During the holiday season, ABC7 and Safeway sponsor the Share Your Holiday food drive in local stores. This year it brought in over 92,000 pounds of food — a tremendous help throughout the winter months. Community members purchase non-perishable groceries and put their bags into the barrels in the front of Safeway stores. In addition, ABC7 and Safeway sponsor a one day event in which the Food Bank teamed up with the Alameda County Community Food Bank at the new Safeway Store in San Ramon. This one day we were able to raise over $128,220 and 5,747 pounds of food. We are truly grateful to all those involved in this event for their time, hard work and energy to make the event successful.

Beginning on November 1 all bay area Whole Foods Markets kept barrels in their stores to receive non-perishable food donations for the holiday months during the CBS5/Whole Foods Market Food for Bay Area Families food drive and collected 3,728 pounds of food. On Dec. 8, Whole Foods held a 5% Day in support of Food for Bay Area Families which made a donation of $8,697. During the entire drive, CBS5 also generously provided on air-time to recognize donors.

For many years, ABC7/Safeway Thanksgiving Meals has continued to help us raise the money needed to make the holiday baskets for our neighbors. This year, we were able to make over 19,000 holiday food baskets! Our special donors — who gave $28,238 and 827 turkeys — had the honor of having their names announced on the 6:00 evening news by ABC7’s Spencer Christian.

In an effort to lend a helping hand this holiday season, CVS pharmacy stores partnered with local food banks to aid in the fight against hunger during the NBC Bay Area’s Holiday Food Drive. Volunteers at bay area stores handed out information and asked for food donations on November 21, making a huge impact to this food drive. The drive collected, 16,115 pounds of food that will be distributed during the winter months to those desperately in need.

Other Holiday Food drives include Travis Credit Union: 5,267 pounds, Food Maxx: 3,562 pounds, Save Mart: 2,360 pounds, and Lucky: 26,454 pounds. Over 800 community food drives were held during the 2009 holiday season and every single one made a difference to the Food Bank and the people we serve. Many thanks to all of those involved for the much
needed food.

Throughout the year the Food Bank is the beneficiary of so many wonderful events and food drives thanks to our generous community.

CBS 5 recognizing the Student Food Drive

ABC’s Laura Anthony and County Connection

Creekside Church at ABC7 and Safeway's Share Your Holiday event

Travis Credit Union decorated their food drive barrels for the holiday season

Moraga CVS Store with the store manager and volunteers from Key Club and Kiwanis

Helping our Neighbors in Need

February 12, 2010 By Renee

Throughout the year the Food Bank benefits from many wonderful events and food drives thanks to the generous community. Every holiday season, several communities in Contra Costa and Solano counties host neighborhood food drives. The spirit of these neighborhoods is what the season is all about!

Food Drive	Monetary Donation	Food Donated
Apple Hill	$ 445.00	2614
Blackhawk	$ 47,696.54	11344
Brickyard Landing	$ 315.00	615
Country Club Cleaners	$ 2,955.00	1628
County Connection	$ 260.00	1735
Crow Canyon	$ 2,101.00	2033
Diablo	$ 1,985.00	1768
Kensington Vet Hospital		166
Kensington Ace Hardware		103
Kensington Mechanics Bank		89
Magee Ranch	$ 180.00	1156
Promontory	$ 55.00	253
Rossmoor	$ 16,854.50	11240
Round Hill	$ 4,125.00	2376
Stonegate/Stonebridge	$ 3,630.00	1681
WestCAT	$ 100.00	377
Whitegate/Bryan Ranch/Bryan Meadow	$ 4,960.37	2586

Crow Canyon

Whitegate

Diablo

Magee Ranch

WestCAT

Round Hill

Stonegate

Lollipop Lane

December 29, 2009 By Lisa

As you approach Lollipop Lane in Vacaville every December, the first thing you notice is the sound of holiday music blaring from outdoor speakers, and the blur of lights as you turn onto the street (known January through November as Shady Glen Avenue). Every house is decorated in the lollipop theme, Food Bank donation barrels are placed in front of many of the homes, and there, in front of the McKimmy home is Santa, listening to children’s wishes and letting out a right jolly laugh every now and then.

For the past eight years, Don and Yukiko McKimmy have encouraged visitors to Lollipop Lane to donate food and money to the Food Bank. With help from neighbors and numerous others, Don has made Lollipop Lane and Candy Cane Lane (one street over) a must-see destination each December. Appearing twice during the month are the Fellowship of the Ringers, a local bell ringing group that have volunteered their time for the past six years and perform their repertoire of holiday music for the hundreds of visitors who come by. This year, Lollypop Lane collected over 707 pounds of food!

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