Food Bank Of Contra Costa And Solano Counties Celebrates 40 Years Of Nourishment
KPIX 5 Morning Weather Anchor Roberta Gonzales highlights a local charity in the community.
Originally posted in the Vacaville Reporter: "The year was 1975. Gasoline cost $0.44 a gallon. The average cost of a home was $40,000. You could get a brand new car for $4,000. Even back then, although those prices seem like a bargain today, not everyone had enough food to get by."
In 1975, the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano (then called the Community Food Coalition) was formed and incorporated because "not everybody could get by." They were simply a group of people who were responding to the needs of our community.
The Food Bank was created to help those organizations stretch their dollars by buying food in bulk and soliciting donations. Little did we understand in 1975 the impact that the Food Bank would have in our community and how the need for food would grow.
Last year they provided over 21 million pounds of food to people in need in our local communities.
They work with nearly two hundred nonprofit service agencies and have a variety of direct service programs that bring food directly to low-income senior citizens, children and other people in need. And they have a positive health impact on the people we serve because over half the food we distribute is fresh produce.
Everyone connected with the organization is incredibly proud of what they have been able to accomplish, but struggle with using the term "celebration" to acknowledge their 40th anniversary.
In addition to food donations, the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County need to raise money to pay the handling fees for the produce they distribute and for transporting it to their warehouse.Also, the need to raise funds to pay for trucks and drivers who bring the food to those served is great.
To honor 40 years of nourishing our community, the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County held a black-tie Gala this past Saturday and I was honored to be the Emcee!
For the past 19 years I have worked hand and hand with the different Food Banks here in the Bay Area with our KPIX Program called, "Food For Bay Area Families."
For this past weekend's gala, it was a pleasure to assist with emcee duties and raise money for an organization very close to my heart. Interesting note, throughout the year, if you donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County, for every dollar received, 0.96 goes directly to food programs.
Hunger is not just a seasonal Thanksgiving and Christmas problem. Hunger is 12 months a year. To help; please visit http: http://www.foodbankccs.org/give-help/donate.html
