LTC 106-2021 Update on City’s Food Pantry ServicesDocuSign Envelope ID: 05797A94-D461-4FCA-866B-C8C0E0B782FD
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 106-2021 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Raul J. Aguila, Interim City Manager
DATE: March 12, 2021
SUBJECT: Update on City’s Food Pantry Services
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to provide a financial and beneficiaries summary of
the City’s food pantry program which was established to provide nutrition support for residents
adversely impacted by COVID-19.
The City’s food pantry, located at 505 – 17th Street (former Code Compliance offices), provides
fresh produce, dairy, protein and shelf staples for residents who face food insecurity as a result
of income loss due to COVID-19. The pantry allows residents to walk through and select food
items that are culturally and nutritionally reflective of their dietary plans. The City began providing
nutrition support to residents in March 2020.
The food program obtains considerable support from the Farm Share Program in conjunction with
the office of Commissioner David Richardson. The Farm Share support provides about 60 percent
of the food items in current grocery bags. The food bags are augmented with shelf stable food
items purchased by the City in bulk.
The Mayor and Commission appropriated $400,000 in 2020 to support the program. To date, the
City has expended $261,815.54 for the program as follows:
DocuSign Envelope ID: 05797A94-D461-4FCA-866B-C8C0E0B782FD
Food costs by category and expense are:
Bulk Food $ 248,764.10
Paper Bags $ 4,369.38
Temporary Labor 1 $ 4,255.47
Refrigerators $ 1,379.52
Program Supplies $ 1,211.72
Homeless Food Cards $ 430.00
1 – Temporary labor began October 21, 2020
Food costs have declined since the inclusion of Farm Share resources and are currently
averaging $5,342.02 per month, which is down from $10,751.92 per month in July 2020.
There are currently 1,370 households registered in the pantry program. Of these, 203 households
are ineligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps and are
considered to be acutely at risk of food insecurity without the City’s nutritional support.
The demand for pantry services has declined over time. For the past two months, the program
has served an average of 105-109 households per week. At its peak in 2020, the program was
serving 500 households per week.
The pantry program has a balance of $138,184.44 remaining. At current expenditure rates (which
are conditioned on ongoing support form the Farm Share program, stable food costs, no growth
in demand, and the use of temporary labor), these funds will provide up to 18 months of ongoing
services.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to see me or Maria Ruiz, Director, Office of
Housing and Community Services.
RJA/ATH/MLR