Title
Strike Out Hunger Food Drive (B)
The purpose of this agenda item is to provide the City Commission with the results and outcomes of the 2016 Strike Out Hunger Food Drive for Gainesville/Alachua County and request continued support from the City during the 2017 Strike Out Hunger Food Drive. ** ESTIMATED PRESENTATION 10 MINUTES**
Explanation
The City of Gainesville and its employees, along with community partners, have been collecting food for the needy in Gainesville/Alachua County for several years. The City has been a co-sponsor of the event since its inception and has provided in-kind services (meeting space and staff time) to support the event. The food drive is organized by MLK Chairperson Rodney Long who started the event when he was a member of the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners. The City has been a committed partner in the effort to reduce poverty in Gainesville and Alachua County. Additionally, the City has been a major partner in the creation and development of the Hunger Abatement Plan for Gainesville and Alachua County.
The Strike Out Hunger Food Drive collects food and donations to restock food pantries throughout Gainesville and Alachua County for needy families. Without the annual food drive, many of the local food pantries would run out of food during the most critical time of the year which is the holiday season. Mr. Long has requested an opportunity to report the results and outcomes of the 2016 Strike Out Hunger Food Drive and to request continued support from the City Commission for the 2017 Strike Out Hunger Food Drive.
Fiscal Note
There is little or no cost to the City to participate in the annual Food Drive other than minimal staff time and meeting space. The Thomas Center hosted 11 meetings in the Spanish Court for the 2016 planning committee. If in-kind fees were not waived the costs of hosting these meetings would have been approximately $2,090.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) hear a presentation o...
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