Lollipop Lane

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!

Trick or Treating for Cans

California High School's Interact Club annually runs a "Trick or Treating for Cans" food drive and donates the food to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. This year, the food drive was completed with the help of three clubs from Cal High: Interact, Key Club, and the National Honor Society. A goal of this food drive was also to cover an even larger area than the previous years in order to obtain more food.

The food drive started out with the bag assembly. With the help of the Food Bank, Cal High was given around 5,000 plain, brown paper bags. The volunteers of the clubs grabbed a couple of staplers and began stapling flyers onto the paper bags. The flyer announced the food drive and what foods were needed. Next week, all the bags were handed around San Ramon and the households were given one week to fill up the bag. After that week was up, the clubs drove around San Ramon, picking up the bags of food. Once all this was done, the Food Bank drove the truck to Cal High and picked up all the food.



The total amount of food collected was 5,216 pounds! Christina, representing Cal High, was recognized on CBS5 (photo above), for the work that she and the three clubs did to help our neighbors in need!

Whole Foods Market "5% Day"

A very successful 5% Day on December 8th at Whole Foods Market for the Bay Area Food Banks!Thank you to Whole Foods, CBS5 and every one who went shopping at Whole Foods Market on that day!

GEMM Award Raffle Check Delivered to the Food Bank

2010 Greater East Bay GEMM (Greater Excellence in Management and Maintenance) Awards Raffle was donated to two East Bay charities: FESCO (Family Emergency Shelter Coalition) and the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. Below is the photo of the check delivery to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano.
pictured left to right:
Joan Bergum, California Apartment Association (CAA) Contra Costa Napa Solano Advisory Board Member
Larry Sly, Executive Director, Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
Barbara Conde, Regional Portfolio Manager Broadway Management and 2009 Greater East Bay GEMM Award Winner (category) Regional/Portfolio Manager of the Year.
Karen Quennell, Business Development Manager Northern California Division of JWilliams Staffing and 2010 Greater East Bay GEMM Awards Committee Chair

Local Montessori helps the Food Bank

The "Myrtle Farm Parent Club" at Myrtle Farm Montessori in Concord planned a food drive from November 1st-20th. In the school newsletter they talked about the Food Bank and listed our top priority needed items. The five kids in the photos are classmates who were able to come to the Food Bank on November 20th and delivered the food, which weighed in at 184 pounds!


They were so proud and we are so grateful!

The food they donated will provide about 147 meals to people in our community. Great work Myrtle Farm Montessori!

Interested in hosting your own Food Drive? Read the Food Bank's Food Drive Kit (PDF: 42K) for everything you need to know to host one.

Lose For Good

Weight Watchers in El Cerrito has donated nearly a ton of food this year! Recently, the Food Bank picked up close to one thousand pounds of non-perishable food from Weight Watchers that symbolized the combined weight lost by the staff at the El Cerrito facility since September. As part of the Lose For Good Campaign, not only were staff encouraged to donate the weight they pledged to lose in non-perishable food, but their customers were encouraged to do the same. They will continue to collect food through the end of the year.

Three Girls Donate Over $600!

Last year, Taylor (age 7), Jenna (age 11) and Sarah (age 7) raised money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This year, they decided to help their neighbors in need by donating to the Food Bank. They were able to raise over $600 during the summer by holding bake sales, selling lemonade, and collecting donations at a car wash. These young ladies are an inspiration!

The Giving Beautifully Food Bank Challenge I

Embassy Suites Walnut Creek Launches a Food Donation Discount of $20 per Night

The Embassy Suites Walnut Creek at 1345 Treat Boulevard recently announced the launch of its Donate Food rate, which offers up to a $20 discount off midweek rates* and $10 off weekend rates* each night when guests pledge to donate three canned goods or more at
check-in. All donations will go to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. This special rate is available for stays from now through December 30, 2009.

“We are very excited to work with the Food Bank to support the local community as well as give something back to our guests, said David Burri, the Director of Sales & Marketing at the Embassy Suites. The package includes accommodations in a deluxe two room suite, daily full cooked to order breakfast and manager’s reception* with full bar, beer, wine and appetizers. The hotel completed an extensive renovation this past September and features 250 suites overlooking an eight story tropical atrium filled with tropical trees and lavish landscaping. All of the suites include up to date furnishings and amenities including granite counter tops, dark wood features and 42” HD TV’s.

The hotel provides guests with a full complement of services and amenities, including local transportation to restaurants and offices within a five mile radius of the hotel, 7,500 square feet of meeting and banquet space, and a full bar and restaurant on site. The hotel is in the heart of Walnut Creek and just minutes away from Downtown Walnut Creek’s chic shopping district as well as across the street from Bay Area Rapid Transportation. All Embassy Suites Hotels® offer spacious two-room suites that include a separate living area with a sofa bed, armchair, and well-lit dining/work table, private bedroom and bath, hair dryers, MP3 clock radio, two televisions, two dual-line phones, high-speed Internet access, wet bar, mini-refrigerator, microwave oven, iron and ironing board, Precor® fitness center, convenient complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast each morning and complimentary two-hour Manager’s Reception* each evening.

To make reservations, travelers can visit the Embassy Suites Hotels Web site at www.embassysuites.com, call 1-800-EMBASSY or call the hotel directly at 925-934-2500 and ask for the “Donate Food” discount.

*Service of alcohol subject to state and local laws. Must be of legal drinking age. Discounts are given off of the hotel’s standard rates.

About Embassy Suites Hotels
Founded in 1984, Embassy Suites Hotels defines the upscale, all-suite segment and today has 201 hotels, with an additional 51 in the pipeline. With spacious two-room suites, engaging team members and an inviting atrium environment, guests are allowed to put their feet up and feel right at home. To learn more, visit www.embassysuites.com.

Eat Cheesecake, Fight Hunger

The Cheesecake Factory announced that over 320,000 cans of soup were collected across all Cheesecake Factory locations nationwide during the month of September. This surpassed the original goal of 100,000 cans.

On September 30, The Cheesecake Factory held its “You Dine, We’ll Donate” event across all locations. For every guest who dined at a Cheesecake Factory on that day and donated 2 cans of soup, 10% of their guest bill was donated to local food banks. Our local Cheesecake Factory collected 187 pounds of food.



Continuing through July 2010, for every slice of The Cheesecake Factory’s Stefanie’s Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake sold, $0.25 will be donated to Feeding America. Having tried a slice (or two) myself, I highly recommend you visit your local Cheesecake Factory and enjoy Stefanie’s Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake!

Food Bank Benefits from Quilt Raffle

C&T Warehouse recently held a raffle for a handmade quilt and sold tickets throughout their office and at their annual warehouse sale. They raised $225 for the Food Bank! Find out more about the quilt and story: http://www.ctpubblog.com/2009/09/04/ct-raffle-quilt/.

Thank you to Gailen Runge, Creative Director and the entire C&T Publishing and Warehouse Team.

Week four of 30 ways in 30 days

Welcome to week four of 30 ways in 30 days - ways you can fight hunger in your community every day of the week. If you missed any of the weeks, or want to see the end, you can find the whole month of 30 days in 30 ways at www.foodbankccs.org.

30 Days in 30 Ways - Week 4

Sept. 21: Book a tee time on Sept. 21st at Oakhurst Country Club in Clayton and a portion of your Green Fees will be donated. Bring five canned food items and receive a raffle ticket. Call 925-672-9737 ext. 201


Sept 22: Empty Bowls, Food Bank Concord Warehouse, 5:30 pm, $10 per person. Enjoy a simple meal served in a handcrafted bowl and get a behind the scenes look at the Food Bank. Reservations required and seat­ing is limited, please call 925-771-1310 to reserve your spot today.

Sept. 23: Ask employees to bring their lunch on a specific day and donate the value of an average lunch to the Food Bank.


Sept. 24: Empty Bowls, Food Bank Fairfield Warehouse, 5:30 pm, $10 per person. Enjoy a simple meal served in a handcrafted bowl and get a behind the scenes look at the Food Bank. Reservations required and seat­ing is limited, please call 925-771-1310 to reserve your spot today.

September 24 -27 Walnut Festival, Walnut Creek. Bring a can of food to donate and get $1 off your admission. www.thewalnutfestival.org


Sept. 25: Myths and Facts of Food Stamps 9 am - noon, Food Bank Concord Warehouse. More info: 925- 676-7543 ext. 231.


Sept. 26: Pleasant Hill Community Service Day. Local residents will be collecting non-perishable food for the Food Bank on this annual Community Service Day. To be a part of this event go to http://www.pleasanthill.ca.gov/index.aspx?NID=514 and then click on Food Bank to sign up.


Sept 26: Sunrise Assisted Living Food Drive, 2175 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek. Please join us for live music, good food, and a good cause. To RSVP, please call (925) 932-3500.


Sept. 20: There is still time to give a little during Hunger Action Month. For every dollar donated, the Food Bank is able to provide three meals to people in need.


For more ideas on how to fight hunger in your community, visit our Hunger Action Month calendar online.

Give a Little Feed a Lot!

We are at the half-way point of Hunger Action Month, but there is still time to give a little during Hunger Action Month. For every dollar donated, the Food Bank is able to provide three meals to people in need. Consider giving up your coffee this week. At three dollars a day for seven days that is 63 meals we can provide in the community.

Help us raise $10,000! Give a Little today and we will make sure it Feeds a Lot!

30 ways in 30 days - Week 3

Welcome to week three of 30 ways in 30 days - ways you can fight hunger in your community every day of the week. If you missed week two, or want to jump ahead, you can find the whole month of 30 days in 30 ways at www.foodbankccs.org.

30 Days in 30 Ways - Week 3

Sept. 14 -18: United WayWeek of Caring

Sept. 14: Follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/foodbankccs and fan us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Food-Bank-of-Contra-Costa-and-Solano/114530700443.

Sept 15: Macy's "Come Together" invites you to host a dinner party and ask guests to pledge a donation to Feeding America in place of the usual host gift through Macy's "Come Together" website. Macy's will generously match each donation made for the campaign. Plus tonight Macy's will host the Wolrd's Largest Dinner Party at your local Macy's at 6:00 pm.

Sept. 16: Join the Food Bank's monthly donor program.

Sept. 17: Become an advocate for hunger and poverty relief. Sign up to receive Hunger Fighter advocacy alerts from the Food Bank.


Sept. 18: Sony Pictures releases Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs today. Kids can join Flint in becoming a Hunger Helper - someone who finds ways to fight hunger in the community. Become a Hunger Helper today by making your own bookmark and even writing to your Congressman.

Sept. 19: A day-long shopping event, Macy's - Passport, offers the opportunity for local non-profit organizations that support AIDS/HIV programs to raise funds. Participating Macy's stores are located at Pleasanton's Stoneridge Mall, Walnut Creek's Broadway Plaza, San Francisco's Union Square, Marin's Corte Madera Store, Palo Alto's Stanford Store, and Santa Clara's Valley Fair Store. For a $10.00 ticket to the event, you will receive a special shopping discount (exclusive to Passport in Store) to be used on almost all purchases. The Food Bank will retain 100% of the direct ticket sales proceeds. For more information or to purchase a ticket, please contact Joan Tomasini at 925-771-1315 or email jtomasini@foodbankccs.org.

Sept. 20: Host a Food Drive.

For more ideas visit our Hunger Action Month calendar online.

30 Days in 30 Ways - Week 2

Here is your second week of ways you can fight hunger in your community. If you missed week one, you can find the whole month of 30 days in 30 ways at www.foodbankccs.org.

This September, please think about what you can do to help: volunteer, donate, advocate! For more information about Hunger Action Month, these events, or just the Food Bank in general, please call 925-676-7543, email info@foodbankccs.org or visit us on the web at www.foodbankccs.org.

30 Days in 30 Ways - Week 2

Sept. 7 : Host an Eat In and tell Congress: It's time to provide America's children with real food at school. An Eat-In is a potluck that takes place in public and gathers people to support a cause - like getting real food into schools.

Sept 8: Food Nutrition Policy Consortium meeting, Food Bank Concord Warehouse. 9 - 11 am. More info: 925-676-7543 ext. 204

Sept. 9: Learn more about the Child Nutrition Reauthorization and how you can help get improve access to food for kids. Don't forget to record your minutes at the Hunger Action Center and help the Food Bank win a truckload of food from Kraft Foods.

Sept. 10: Myths and Facts of Food Stamps 9 am - noon, Fairfield. More info: 707- 421-9777 ext. 231

Sept. 11: San Pablo Community Foundation's "Starlight Martini". The "Starlight Martini" dinner dance is an elegant evening filled with great food, music, dancing, and friends. Each attendee also receives a complimentary martini glass. Cocktails at 6:00 PM and Dinner at 7:00 PM.

Sept. 12: Open house and Family Volunteer Day, Food Bank Fairfield Warehouse. No reservations required. Drop in between 2:30 and 4:30.

Sept. 13: Open house and Family Volunteer Day, Food Bank Concord Warehouse. No reservations required. Drop in between 2:30 and 4:30.

For more ideas visit our Hunger Action Month calendar online.

Defend Against Hunger

The Miromonte High School Football team is hosting a food drive and your team could be too! Contact Joan Tomasini at (800) 870-FOOD extension 208 or jtomasini@foodbankccs.org.

Got fruit?

Attention residents in the Danville/Alamo area: did you know someone local is willing to harvest and/or deliver local fruit to the Food Bank or other neighborhood pantries?

Anna Chan, The Lemon Lady, says, "Mira is super sweet and interested in helping more. The word is just beginning to get around about her efforts. She has made several donations, driving all the way from Alamo to Concord to deliver fresh fruit to The Salvation Army and Share Food Pantry. Mira is very dedicated to the hunger cause."

Thank Mira and Anna for all the hard work you are doing!

Fresh fruit in the garden and what to do with it...

See the Lemon Lady in the news

Anna, The Lemon Lady, spent the day with ABC7 talking about the work she does and the need for fresh produce at food pantries. Read more here: http://claycord.blogspot.com/2009/06/lemon-lady-of-claycord-on-abc7-news.html
and here: http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/06/exciting-day-with-abc-news-reporters.html.

More need and more donations

Check out USA Today's front page article - Food banks see more who need and more who give!

"We're up in terms of food and funds," says Ross Fraser, spokesman for Feeding America, the nation's largest network of food banks. He says food donations are up 20% and cash donations are up 46% from a year earlier.

Plant a Row for the Hungry

Join the Contra Costa Times and Oakland Tribune, and the Contra Costa Master Gardeners in their project "Our Garden". The goal of "Our Garden" is to teach others how to grow vegetables in your own gardens, using environmentally responsible methods (from the Oakland Tribune website). They will be donating produce grown in the garden to the Food Bank and you can too! To learn more about Plant a Row, visit our website.