Solano takes part in 21st annual Food Fight – Times Herald Online

Bay Area sports fans are no stranger to major late fall rivalries between Stanford-Cal and the 49ers-Seahawks. Meanwhile, a lesser-known showdown between Contra Costa and Solano county commissioners has a growing story and a huge impact, having raised nearly $2.7 million for charity since 2003.

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano's 21st annual Food Fight will begin later this month, according to Solano County PIO Matthew Davis. County government employees from each jurisdiction compete to raise as much money as possible for the organization. Solano employees are the current recipients of the Big Apple Trophy.

“It’s always fun to have some friendly competition during the holidays,” Davis said.

Caitlyn Sly, president of the organization, attended Tuesday's Solano County Board of Supervisors meeting to thank the board for its continued support of the program and to inspire Solano County employees to donate this year. Visit the food bank's website for more information about the program and ways for employees to donate.

Every dollar raised is enough for two meals provided by the food bank, she said. More than 70 partner agencies in Solano County receive food from the Food Bank, Sly said, including 25 in Vallejo, six in Vacaville, three in Benicia and 20 in Fairfield.

The Food Bank averages nearly 150,000 visitors per month in Solano County, she said, and last year alone the Solano County Food Bank provided over 10 million pounds of food.

“The need in this local community is real,” Sly said. “But we are very proud that we can meet this need.”

Sly also noted that the Food Bank works hard to provide fresh food through food distribution programs.

“It's not just about there being enough food, but about making sure it's the right food,” she said.

Sly took over the organization earlier this year after serving as director of Meals on Wheels-Diablo Region.

“Over the years, I have watched the Food Bank grow from a small emergency food provider to a leader fighting food insecurity and promoting nutrition through education and the distribution of fresh, seasonal produce,” Sly said when he began of the year was hired for the position. “In many ways, my return to the Food Bank as president and CEO feels like a return home.”

In 2023, Davis said county employees have raised over $63,000 to win the trophy, and the county has raised a total of $674,000 since the competition began 20 years ago. The supervisors highly praised the program and thanked Sly for his participation in the meeting and for the work of the food bank.

“If we as a county would normally pick a fight, that would be my job,” Supervisor Mitch Mashburn joked, before noting that he supports the program and the organization’s work.

Supervisor Monica Brown noted that the competition is an entertaining rivalry, but that the cause is particularly important given that inflation has been rampant since the pandemic. Still, she pushed her staff to win this year's competition and keep the Big Apple for the fourth year in a row.

“The goal is 'Beat Contra Costa,'” Brown said. “That’s all we have to do.”