Local Food Bank Asks For Community Involvement, Help On Giving Tuesday

For this year’s Giving Tuesday on November 29,  the global giving day, the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano is asking Bay Area residents to help meet the holiday need by getting involved.

The Food Bank will be hosting tours all day on Giving Tuesday at their Fairfield and Concord locations, so supporters can learn how to help and see their impact firsthand. Tours will offer a behind-the-scenes look at how the Food Bank serves 275,000 residents per month.

For this upcoming season, the Food Bank recognizes many residents need more support, especially with Thanksgiving and holiday meals this year predicted to cost 112% more compared to the previous year. The Food Bank is also distributing turkeys for clients during the holidays, which are costing them 41% more this year than in previous years. Further, though donations have decreased by 20%, the need has increased. The Food Bank currently serves an average of 275,000 residents each month in both counties – 25% of which are children – and has seen senior needs increase over 50% in the last year.

Local community members can make a big impact next week:

• Reserve a tour: The Food Bank is welcoming anyone looking to support the Food Bank to reserve a tour to experience its operations during the holiday season. Tours must be reserved in advance.
• Donate: In partnership with BlackBerry, every dollar donated up to $35,000 from  November 22 – 29, will be matched. This means that every dollar will provide at least four meals and offers a way for community members to double their impact.

Joel Sjostrom, CEO and President of the Food Bank comments: “Giving Tuesday is an incredible opportunity for our community to harness their power to make a real difference in the fight to end hunger. During the holiday season, we rely on so many people to help feed our neighbors in need. We’d love to welcome supporters to our facilities so they can see how much their involvement means to us and our operations. We thank you for your support.”

Supporters can sign-up for a tour today or donate online for Giving Tuesday.

About the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano

Founded in 1975, The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano (FBCCS) is a critical resource, serving 1 in 6 residents in our local communities. Our mission is leading the fight to end hunger, in partnership with our community and service of our neighbors in need. Through our partnership with Feeding America, FBCCS distributes nutritious food through a network of over 260 partners and nonprofits, serving 275,000 people every month. FBCCS also strategically engages in advocacy work to raise awareness and mobilize support to end hunger, and are recognized as one of Feeding America’s Hall of Fame honor roll members for excellence in advocacy.

During times of crisis, The Food Bank serves as second responders and Feeding America’s disaster relief hub for the West Coast, by providing access to food in communities impacted by natural disasters and crises in 18 Northern California counties.

With 97 cents of every $1 donated going toward food distribution, FBCCS is committed to financial transparency and consistently earns Charity Navigator’s highest four-star rating. To learn more about The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, go to www.foodbankccs.org.