A year of COVID-19

One year ago, regional shelter-in-place orders went into effect for most of the Bay Area counties. As an essential business, the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano immediately leaped into action to safely and efficiently serve its neighbors in need.

Before the pandemic, national food insecurity levels were the lowest they had been in 20 years, yet the Food Bank was providing food assistance for approximately 176,000 of our neighbors each month.

Since last March, the Food Bank has helped feed an average of 260,000 people per month – an increase of 100,000 people each month on average.

Below is an overview of the Food Bank’s efforts throughout the pandemic:

• Distributed over 40 million pounds of food since March 2020; an average of 3.3 million pounds of food each month.

• Served 289,174 people in December — a record high.

• Quadrupled food purchasing to meet demand.

• Hosted up to 75 distribution sites each week throughout Contra Costa and Solano counties.

• Partnered with 240 nonprofit agencies by providing food to help them feed and serve the community.

• Worked with community partners to deliver food to homes, support school district breakfast and lunch giveaways, and create new drive-thru distribution models.

• Brought in National Guard members who prepared 1,000 boxes and 10,000 pounds of produce each weekday early in the pandemic.

• Logged over 109,000 hours of service by more than 6,500 volunteers; equivalent to more than 52 full-time staff.

• Supported those affected by the LNU Complex fire with water and easy-to-eat food.

• Expanded targeted outreach to meet the needs of those most disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

While some sense of normalcy is starting to return for many of us, the financial and social impacts of the pandemic are expected to last well into the future. The Food Bank has served its neighbors for 45 years and will continue to be a reliable source of food and assistance for those who need it most.

The Food Bank counts on the support of the community to serve food-insecure neighbors throughout Contra Costa and Solano counties. Here’s how you can help:

• Volunteer: foodbankccs. org/volunteer.

• Donate funds: foodbankccs.org/donate ($1 provides enough food for 2 meals).

• Follow us and share on social media: @foodbankccs.

• Advocate: foodbankccs. org/advocate.

• Host a Virtual Food Drive: foodbankccs.org/virtualfooddrive.

— Diana Brennan/ Communications Director/ Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano