Contra Costa County Food Bank

Food Insecurity And Food Donations

In 2016, 41 million people struggled with hunger in the United States, including 13 million children. In 2015, 5.4 million seniors struggled to afford enough to eat. A household that is “food insecure” lacks access to affordable and nutritious food to support a healthy life.

Approximately 1 out of every 6 people in Contra Costa and in California are food insecure, meaning these individuals or families struggle to find their next meal. Many restaurants and markets discard food that was not sold into their garbage can, which eventually ends up in the landfills. Some of this food is still wholesome for consumption.

We want to encourage people to start donating their unwanted or minimally expired food goods to designated food donation centers to help the hungry here in our county.

• Sustainable America

Calfresh Income Limits 2022

Most households must have a total gross monthly income less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty level, to be potentially eligible for CalFresh.

If your household has a person who is 60 or older or disabled, only the net income limit must be met.

Are There Items I Cannot Purchase With Calfresh Benefits

Yes. CalFresh benefits cannot be used to purchase:

• Any non-food items, including pet food, soaps, paper products, household supplies, grooming items, and cosmetics.
• Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.
• Vitamins and medicines.
• Any food that will be eaten in the store.
• Any food marketed to be heated in the store.

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Contra Costa County Calfresh Renewal Process

You must turn in this recertification application and be interviewed before the end of your certification period to continue receiving CalFresh.

In many counties, you can complete this recertification application online.

We will first explain the recertification process, then we will explain how you can complete the process online.

Forgot Username And Password

If you do not remember your login credentials, follow the instructions below:

Forgot Username

If you do not remember your username, click on the Forgot Username? link, as shown below.

Next, You will then be taken to a page where you have to provide your email address to retrieve your username.

Enter your email address in the space provided, then click Submit. You will receive an email with instructions about your username.

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Food Banks Need Help: Money Donations Helps The Most

Food banks need help: money helps the most

While food banks typically bring in a bounty to those in need this time of year, demand is once again high in the Bay Area this Thanksgiving.

CONCORD, Calif. While food banks typically bring in a bounty to those in need this time of year, demand is once again high in the Bay Area this Thanksgiving.

As the population ages and the economy becomes more unforgiving, food banks are not just a hedge against inflation. For many people, theyre a hedge against malnutrition or worse, and they need your help.

A Hindu service group brought six carloads of foodstuffs to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano in Concord as an act of both kindness to others and a life lesson for their little ones. We are just trying to contribute to our community and this is the best way we can tell our children how you can contribute and this is a community we are living in and you have to support the people who are in need, said Nitin Bokhriyal, a Hindu Swansewag Sangh volunteer.

In every respect, hunger is a numbers game: a complex equation of numbers of people, numbers of food donations, numbers of dollars, numbers of volunteers, numbers of transportation costs, supply chain issues and, most important, the numbers of the needy. The demand has increased almost, in some cases, double, said Contra Costa Food Bank Food Sorting Coordinator Willie Mendoza.

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If I Am Receiving Ssi/ssp Can I Also Receive Calfresh Benefits

Starting June 1, 2019, the CalFresh food assistance program expanded to include eligible older adults and people with disabilities who receive Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment benefits.

There are multiple ways to connect with DPSS for new households to apply:

CALL: 1- 663-3225 to apply by phone,CLICK: MyBenefits CalWIN to apply online, orIN PERSON: Locate your local county office here.

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Tax Filings And Audits By Year

The IRS Form 990 is an annual information return that most organizations claiming federal tax-exempt status must file yearly. Read the IRS instructions for 990 forms.

If this organization has filed an amended return, it may not be reflected in the data below. Duplicated download links may be due to resubmissions or amendments to an organizations original return.

Nonprofit organizations that spend $750,000 or more in Federal grant money in a fiscal year are required to submit an audit covering their finances and compliance. Some of these are program specific, while others, called single audits, look at the entire organization. Nonprofit Explorer has PDFs of these audits for some nonprofits for fiscal year 2015 and later. Theyre provided by the Federal Audit Clearinghouse.

• The Internal Revenue Service is substantially delayed in processing and releasing nonprofit filings, so documents available here may not be the most recent an organization has filed. ProPublica posts new tax forms as they are released by the IRS.

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About This Data

Nonprofit Explorer includes summary data for nonprofit tax returns and full Form 990 documents, in both PDF and digital formats.

Which Organizations Are Here?

Volunteers Are Essential To Our Work

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano is continuing to operate as an essential business during this shelter in place. Volunteers perform a critical role in the work we do and are still needed during this time.

We are asking for healthy people, not displaying any symptoms of being sick or living with anyone who is sick, to .

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Why Money Instead Of Food

Were all familiar with the big food collection barrels that stand in every grocery store entrance-in fact, we used to have them distributed throughout County offices, too. But shortly after we started the Counties Care Holiday Food Fight, the Food Bank persuaded us to direct our efforts toward collecting money instead of food.

Contra Costa County Invites You To Help Fight Hunger

Once again, in 2022 Contra Costa and Solano counties will compete to raise funds for the Food Bank.

This friendly competition, spearheaded by individual county departments, has raised nearly $2.6 million since 2003. The county that raises the most funds per employee will win the Big Apple trophy. The trophy and bragging rights pass back and forth annually, but the real winners are the recipients of the funds you raise, those who need the help the most in our communities.

To join Contra Costa County in helping fight hunger by donating to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County, here is a link to the teams you can donate to:

Supervisor Burgiss office has raised $0 out of their goal of $15,000

• Supervisor Glovers office has raised $0 out of their goal of $1,500

• County Administrator has raised $0 out of their goal of $1,500

For a look at all teams or start your own team, .

About Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano

An astounding 1 in 6 residents turn to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano for emergency and supplemental food. Many of our neighbors are unable to make ends meet and the Food Bank helps them cover one of lifes basic needsnutritious food. We strive to serve all people experiencing hunger or food insecurity in Solano and Contra Costa counties and commit to never turn anyone away.

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Turkey Prices Rise As Thanksgiving Approaches

Experts said that people around the country will find inflation impacting nearly everything at the grocery store this holiday season.

There is no question that this year, Thanksgiving is more expensive than ever before, said supermarket guru Phil Lempert.

From potatoes to canned vegetables, prices have shot up this year compared to last and the need for assistance remains high.

The cost of turkeys for us is up 41%, which is huge. Were trying to provide that to our clients. Its a small thing but everyone likes to have some sort of tradition during the holidays, Dinh said.

The food bank said if people want to help, theres several ways they can.

They can go to our website and sign up to, volunteer with their families. They can certainly help by donating money, every dollar provides two meals for our neighbor in need. They can also come by and drop off food, Dinh said.

For more information, visit foodbankccs.org.

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Food Bank Of Contra Costa And Solano Sees Increase Of 100k People Per Month Needing Food

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano has seen an increase of 100,000 people per month in need of food. With inflation on the rise and holidays around the corner, donations are needed now more than ever.

CONCORD, Calif. Veterans Day proved to be a popular day to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano in concord. Gail Strohl came by with her two sons.

Inflation is really high, the cost of food is really high. There are a lot of families in need right now. So we are really trying to do what we can to help other families, says Strohl.

Across the Bay Area, families and communities continue to struggle with food insecurity. Individual donations are crucial since they account for approximately 70% of the donations the food bank gets. And this year, the need is even greater.

RELATED: California food banks struggle collecting leftover food amid high gas prices

It is really the perfect storm. Donations are going down, while the need is going up. Many of our most popular programs are seeing an over 50% increase in need. So, any donation really matters, explains Krystine Dinh, the director of communications at the food bank.

Dinh says they serve 275,000 people every month, which is an increase of 100,000 people per month since last year. She says that includes a 50% increase in seniors and 25% increase in children who are in need of food.

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Who Is Eligible For Calfresh

Here are the categories of people who live in the state of California that are eligible for CalFresh:

• Any California household or individual with low or no income
• Supplemental Security Income recipients
• CalWORKS or CAAP applicants can apply for CalFresh as part of their application process for those services
• Students of higher education who meet eligibility requirements
• Legal permanent residents and qualified immigrants

About Food Bank Of Contra Costa And Solano

OUR MISSION

Leading the fight to end hunger, in partnership with our community and in service of our neighbors in need.

Who We Serve

An astounding 1 in 6 residents turn to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano for emergency and supplemental food. Many of our neighbors are unable to make ends meet and the Food Bank helps them cover one of lifes basic needsnutritious food. We strive to serve all people experiencing hunger or food insecurity in Solano and Contra Costa counties and commit to never turn anyone away.

Through our partnership with Feeding America, a nonprofit network of 200 food banks and the nations largest domestic hunger-relief organization, we also lend support to hunger-fighting organizations in 18 Northern California counties.

WHERE DO WE GET THE FOOD?

DONATED FOOD

The Food Bank receives perishable and nonperishable food from manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, brokers, food drives, farmers and individuals. Regular donations of fresh, local and seasonal fruits and vegetables are provided by the produce industry in partnership with the California Association of Food Banks.

GOVERNMENT-FUNDED PROGRAMS

The Food Bank receives 100% American-grown USDA food and funds through The Emergency Food Assistance Program and The Commodity Supplemental Food Program .

WHOLESALE FOOD PURCHASING

With special deals, industry partnerships and bulk buying power, were able to provide two meals for $1.

FEEDING AMERICA

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Submit Your Recertification Application Form

Next, turn in the signed application to the County.

You can do so in person, by mail, by fax, or online. Heres how:

In-Person

Apply in person at your County EHSD office. .

You can mail the form to your County EHSD office. to locate an office near you.

You can fax the completed, signed application form to your County EHSD office. to locate an office near you.

Online

You can complete the re-certification online using the MyBenefits CalWIN Portal.

for help logging into your MyBenefits CalWIN account or see the instructions above.

If you do not have a MyBenefits CalWIN account, for help in creating one.

Food Bank Of Contra Costa And Solano Takes Fundraising Back To The Future

May 19, 2022 / 11:35 PM / CBS San Francisco

CONCORD The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano held their annual fundraiser Thursday night at West Wind Solano Drive-In in Concord. The movie they showed: Back to the Future Part II. It was especiallly fitting as so many living with food insecurity wish they could go back to a time when a trip to the grocery store wasnt so expensive.

The most vulnerable in our communities are impacted even more. Most of us dont have to choose whether to put food on the table or to buy gasoline, said Joel Sjostrom, the food banks CEO.

In April, food prices went up more than 10% from a year ago, with bacon up almost 18% and eggs up more than 22%.

With inflation at 8.3%, it means paychecks just dont go as far as they used to.

Before the pandemic, one in nine of the residents in Contra Costa and Solano counties relied on us for some supplemental food. That number is now one in six, so that is a dramatic increase in need, Sjostrom said.

The food banks themselves are also getting squeezed with increased gas and energy prices while need has nearly doubled.

Those are huge costs for us. Its really impacted our food banks ability to drive as much food as we have been, Sjostrom said.

For some who attended the drive-in fundraiser, its personal.

I see evidence of the food insecurity all around me. Food is just one of those basics, said food bank board member Teresa Makarewicz.

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Food Bank Contra Costa And Solano

• EIN: 94-2418054
• Food Banks, Food Pantries
• Nonprofit Tax Code Designation: 501 Defined as: Organizations for any of the following purposes: religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition , or the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.
• Donations to this organization are tax deductible.
• More Resources:

Calfresh Contra Costa County

CalFresh is a benefits assistance program that helps limited-income individuals and families buy the food they need in order to stay healthy. If you live in the County of Contra Costa and need help with CalFresh, we can help. In this post, we will review everything you need to know about CalFresh Contra Costa including CalFresh eligibility, how to apply for benefits, How to renew your benefits, MyBenefits CalWIN login help, and EHSD contact information.

Before we get into CalFresh eligibility guidelines, first, we will explain what CalFresh is about and who is eligible to apply.

Next, we will explain each of the eligibility guidelines in detail, including the income limit, which is the most important criteria.

We will then walk you through the 3 ways you can apply for CalFresh in Contra Costa County.

Also, we will walk you through how much you are likely to receive in CalFresh if you are approved.

Additionally, we will review the CalFresh renewal process in Contra Costa County and what you need to know to successfully complete SAR 7 or recertification.

Furthermore, we will explain the restaurant meals program in Contra Costa County and how you can use your EBT card to buy food at restaurants and fast food places if you are eligible.

Lastly, we will provide EHSD contact information, including the phone number and hours of operation.

Applying for CalFresh in the County of Contra Costa

Managing Your CalFresh Benefits

Recommended Reading: How To Donate Perishable Food

So Go Green And Help The Food Bank Bring Green

produce to the 121,000-plus people in Contra Costa County alone who need the help of people like us. As you can see, even a single dollar means so very much. And when your dollar is matched by your fellow employees, and those dollars are matched by employees in another County department well, you can see how it builds. So forgo that Starbucks coffee and help someonepossibly your neighborfeed his or her family this coming spring!

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