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 2019 Strike Out Hunger Food Drive for Gainesville/Alachua County and ask for continued support from the City during the 2020 Strike Out Hunger Food Drive.
Explanation
The Strike Out Hunger Food Drive collects food and donations to restock food pantries for needy families throughout Gainesville and Alachua County. Without this annual food drive, many of the local food pantries would run out of food during the holiday season. This food drive is organized by Rodney Long, who started the event when he was a member of the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners.
The City has co-sponsored and provided in-kind services (meeting space and staff time) to support this event, since its inception. Mr. Long has requested an opportunity to report the results and outcomes of the 2019 Strike Out Hunger Food Drive, and to request continued support from the City Commission for the 2020 Strike Out Hunger Food Drive.
Fiscal Note
The cost to the City to provide in-kind services for the food drive includes staff time and meeting space. In past years, the MLK Multi-Purpose Center and/or the Thomas Center have hosted approximately 10 planning meetings. Typically, the City charges $130-$170 per meeting at those locations to cover labor and equipment. For that reason, if not waived, total fees to Strike Out Hunger for those meetings are estimated to be $1,300 to $2,000 for the year.
Recommendation:
The City Commission: 1) hear a presentation on the 2019 Strike Out Hunger Food Drive for Gainesville/Alachua County; 2) consider the request for continued City support of, and participation in, the 2020 Strike Out Hunger Food Drive; and 3) waive any City building use fees for the 2020 Strike Out Hunger Food Drive meetings.