HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmergency Grant of $100,000 FIND Food Bank �,�,_� CITY OF PALM DESERT
� � OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: That the City Council Approve an Emergency Grant of$100,000 to FIND
Food Bank and Appropriate $100,000 from the Unobligated General
Fund
::x�rY COUNCZL ACTION:
DATE: October 9, 2008 ���a�r� �'� DENIED
[;EC�,IVED 4THE� .,,
CONTENTS: Letter from FIND Food �, , D�� E
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SUBMITTED BY: Carlos L. Ortega, City M����f�o
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+1LRIF'TED BY:
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Recommendation: By Minute Motion, that the City Council:
1. Approve a $100,000 emergency grant to FIND Food Bank for the purpose of
purchasing food for Valley residents; and,
2. Appropriate $100,000 from the Unobligated General Fund
Executive Summary:
The City has received a request from FIND Food Bank to assist them with the purchase of
food to be distributed within the Coachella Valley.
The current economic crisis has increased the demand for food all over the valley. Attached
is a graph provided by FIND showing that the number of people requesting food in 2008
greatly exceeds those requesting food in 2006 and 2007. FIND indicates that desert
charities, funded by the Bob Hope Classic, have provided $100,000. FIND will also be
asking other cities to contribute to this food emergency.
* By Minute Motion: 1) Approved an emergency grant of $50,000 to
FIND Food Bank, In., Cathedral City, California, for the purpose
SUblllltt@ of purchasing food for Valley residents, subject to FIND pro-
y� ,✓' viding appropriate accounting of how the funds and food were
'' ,i"' disbursed and with the understanding that the issue would again
t� �G��c be considered in sig months; 2) appropriate said funds from the
� IInobligated General Fund for this purpose. 4-0 (Ferguson ABSENT)
��CARLOS L. O EGA
City Manager
G:ICITYMGRUCAREN RUSSOIAGENDA REPORTS 20081FIND FOOD BANK GRANT.DOCX I
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� � -"'"'~°-� ��~ �. � "Hunger has no LimiY'
October 1, 2008
The Honorable Jean Benson and Members
of the City Council
The City of Palm Desert
73510 Fred Waring
Palm Desert, CA 92260
Dear Mayor Benson and Members of the City Council:
The current economic crisis in America and more specifically the crisis in the Coachella
Valley has pushed FIND Food Bank's abiliiy to feed those in need to the breaking point.
It is with all due respect that I am asking you and members of the City Council to
consider a request for$100,000 to assist FIND in its acquisition and distribution of food
to its 90 agencies that served over 110,000 persons in August. I am enclosing a very
simple chart that shows what the demand is at the current time compared with 2Q06 and
2007.
At the beginning of 2007 the City of Palm Desert generously gave FIND $100,000 to be
used for agencies most effected by "The Freeze of 2007". These funds along with another
$100,000 from the Bob Hope Classic and 500,000 pounds of food from the State of
California really made a difference in the lives of thousands. As you can see from the
chart, the number of people in crisis in 2007 was considerably less than now.
T'he current crisis is not just impacting those who work in our agricultural industry, but
this crisis is impacting everyone in the Coachella Valley. In fact it seems as if FIND is
standing at the edge of a beach and watching the tsunami waves come in and we aze
wondering if we will survive and if we will have food to feed those who just keep coming
with no end in sight.
In the October 1, 2008 edition of T'he Desert Sun, there was a front page article on the
seriousness of the current crisis as it impacts folks in our community. In 2007 the City of
Palm Desert realized that parts of our larger community were in desperate need and you
responded with generosity and a commitment to the citizens of the Coachella Valley. In
2008 I am respectfully requesting you to consider a similar response to FIND and those
68-615 Perez Rd., 14 B, P.O. Box 41, Cathedrai City, CA. 92235, Web Site: www.findfoodbank.orq
Office: 760-328-3663---Fax: 760-328-3994---Toll Free: 888-449-0613---Email Address: shook�findfoodbank.org
who are in need of food assistance in our community. Simply put,we can not meet the
growing needs without significant financial support. It is my hope that you will once
again stand up for those in our community who need food to feed themselves and their
families.
With kindest personal regards,
S' erely,
amuel S. Hook
President and CEO
Enclosure
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