1 week Ago By Daily Republic Staff
FAIRFIELD – Solano County will retain the Big Apple Trophy for the fourth straight year, based on the average donation by employees going to the regional food bank. "As part of the 2024 Challenge, Solano County employees donated an average of $19.78 per person and Contra Costa employees donated an average of $6.
37 per person," the staff report to the Solano County Board of Supervisors states. The board is scheduled to receive a presentation on the "Care Holiday Food Fight" at today's meeting. It is the first item scheduled on the agenda.
The meeting starts at 9 a.m. The trophy is the prize for the annual challenge to raise money for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano.
It has been ongoing since 2004. This year, the two counties raised $113,765, bringing the total to $789,224. Solano County employee raised $58,833.
Friends of the County donated $50 Contra Costa employee raised $54,831. There were no donations reported from Friends of the County. "In 2012 and 2013, Solano County won the friendly food fight and held the ‘Big Apple Trophy.
’ In 2014 and 2015 the trophy returned to Contra Costa. In 2016, 2017 and 2018 the trophy remained with Solano County. Contra Costa County employees broke Solano County’s three-year winning streak, taking home the Big Apple trophy for 2019," the staff report states.
"In 2020, Solano County regained control of the Big Apply trophy, and held on to it for 2021, 2022 and 2023. Solano County will hold on to the Big Apple trophy for a fifth year in a row in 2024. The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano distributes approximately 10 million pounds of food annually throughout Solano.
It serves 105,500 individuals 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 childcare centers, and group homes," the staff report states. Melinda Sandy, Aimee Johnson and Emily Shephard in the County Administrator’s Office run the challenge with team leaders from each of the 26 departments.
The goal was to raise $20 per employee, a bar hit just twice, but the mark was missed by an average of 22 cents. The following departments will be receiving trophies based on the most dollars contributed per departmental employee: • First Place: County Counsel, $338 per employee. • Second Place: County Administrator’s Office, $248 per employee.
• Third Place: Human Resources, $110 per employee The following departments will be receiving wood plaques based on the most dollars contributed over the past five years. • Most dollars raised over the past five years, large department (200+ employees), Health and Social Services, with $51,899 dollars raised. • Most dollars raised over the past five years, medium department (75-199 employees), Library Services, with $33,613 dollars raised.
• Most dollars raised over the past five years, small department (less than 75 employees), County Counsel, with $35,442 dollars raised..
