The City of Lafayette is considering donating $5,000 to a local food bank in need this holiday season.
This comes as food banks, already strained by the coronavirus pandemic, struggle to keep up with increasing demand.
Money set aside for city staff in Lafayette may soon be shifted to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. City Spokesman Jeff Heyman told KCBS Radio the city manager has recommended city council members approve $5,000 dollars for the food bank instead of using it for their annual holiday party.
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"This year, obviously can’t get together, so the city manager proposed to the staff that in lieu of a holiday party the city use that money for something that we feel is beneficial to the community," Heyman said.
The COVID-19 pandemic has stripped people of their jobs, forced the closure of many businesses and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Nearly 190,000 Contra Costa County residents received food support this year.
All this while the food bank continues to work to ensure they have enough food and volunteers to meet the needs of the community.
"Unfortunately, people are really hurting right now," Heyman added. "It’s the holidays and these are tough times, so we felt that it was a wise use of what would normally be holiday cheer money."
The Lafayette City Council meets Monday to consider approving the donation.