HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-08-18; Food Assistance for Carlsbad Residents; Rocha, LauraTo the members of the:
CITY COUNCIL
Date ~CA ✓cc / CM ✓ ACM / DCM{3) 7
Aug. 18,2020
Council Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
From: Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
David Graham, Chief Innovation Officer
Via: Geoff Patnoe, ·Assistant City Manager ®
Re: Food Assistance for Carlsbad Residents
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2020170
During the COVID-19 pandemic the City of Carlsbad has provided emergency food assistance to
those in need and has participated with the County of San Diego to provide meals to qualifying
individuals. The city has also received unsolicited offers to provide food assistance.
This memorandum provides information regarding the existing programs providing food
assistance in Carlsbad and evaluation of a proposal by the Oceanside Kitchen Collaborative (OKC)
to provide food assistance in the city.
Background
Providing food assistance to Carlsbad residents in need is provided by the federal government,
state government, County of San Diego, philanthropic organizations, and the city. A list of some
local food resources can be found at www.211sandiego.org.
Senior Center Nutrition Program
Prior to COVID-19 the main food assistance program the city provided was a lunch program at
the Senior Center for Carlsbad residents 60 years of age and older. The lunch program provided
nutritious meals Monday through Friday at the Senior Center, and was funded through a
combination of reimbursement by the County of San Diego using federal funds, grants,
donations, and the city's General Fund .
When the San Diego County Public Health Order required the closure of the Senior Center, city
staff quickly shifted to a pickup and delivery program which has now served over 21,000 meals.
The city spends approximately $275,000 annually on this program. The program costs are
generally covered by grants, donations, and reimbursements by the county using federal funds.
Administrative Services Branch
' Office of Innovation & Economic Development
1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-434-5992
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Aug. 18,2020
Page 2
Community Development Block Grant Food Assistance
The city has funded food assistance organizations using the Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) program. Additional CDBG resources were made available through the CARES Act
which were used to fund various COVID-19 related activities, including additional food assistance.
On June 16, 2020, the City Council approved $315,666 in CDBG funding authorized through the
CARES Act to support various COVID-19 related response and recovery activities.
In fiscal year 2020-2021 Brother Benno received a CDBG grant for $15,000 to serve an estimated
200 to 300 meals per month through June 30, 2021. An additional $15,000 was granted in CARES
Act CDBG funding.
Meals on Wheels has also served Carlsbad seniors. In fiscal year 2019-2020 the organization
received $10,000 in CDBG -funding and served a total of 6,756 meals. Their contract has been
extended through June 30, 2021, with an additional $5,000 to continue serving meals to their
Carlsbad clients.
In addition, some CDBG subrecipients, such as the Women's Resource Center and the
Community Resource Center, who provide shelter and rental assistance also offer emergency
food or other basic needs as a supplementary service.
Non-profit organizations that provide food assistance will have the opportunity to apply for any
future COVID-19 related CDBG funds if legislation in response to COVID-19 is approved. If there
are no additional special COVID-19 related CDBG funding opportunities, the city will release a
Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for CDBG funds in the spring of 2021. Food assistance
programs operated by non-profit organizations will have an opportunity to apply for funding at
that time.
Great Plates Delivered
The city also participates in the Great Plates Delivered: Home Meals for Seniors federal program,
administered by the county. This temporary program to provide food assistance during the
health emergency pays for the delivery of three daily meals from a participating restaurant. To
qualify for the program applicants must be:
• Individuals who are 65 or older
• Individuals 60-64 and at high-risk as defined by the CDC, including one of the following:
o Individuals who are COVID-19 positive
o Individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19
o Individuals with an underlying condition
• Individuals must live alone or with one other program-eligible adult
• Participants must not be currently receiving assistance from other state or federal
nutrition assistance programs
• Participants must have an annual income that is within the qualifying range
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Aug. 18,2020
Page 3
• Individuals must affirm an inability to prepare or obtain meals
Prior to its launch, the city conducted an information campaign to encourage restaurants to
participate in the program. The city also conducted outreach to seniors to encourage qualified
individuals to apply.
According to the most recent information from the county there are approximately 2,100 people
who have qualified for the program and it has served over 350,000 meals. There are 53 Carlsbad
residents currently participating in the program, and 16 who were participating but have since
disenrolled.
Charitable Organization Food Assistance
There are also various other organizations providing food assistance to people in Carlsbad. The
Church of the Advent launched a program due to the pandemic which serves 100 to 160 meals
per day to unsheltered homeless in Carlsbad. Interfaith Community Services and Feeding San
Diego provide food boxes. The North County Food Bank is operating contactless drive-thru and
walk up food distribution services at their Super Pantry sites. Coastline Church provides a drive-
thru food bag service every Saturday.
The city's homeless program manager maintains a list of programs to assist the food insecure in
the city. In April, the city launched an interactive COVID-19 local food assistance resources map
to connect seniors, families and the food insecure with vital food support information.
Oceanside Kitchen Collaborative
Oceanside Kitchen Collaborative (OKC) is an initiative of the Feeding the Soul Foundation and
501(c)3 non-profit organization that operates a state-of-the-art food preservation kitchen and
meal packing space. OKC can prepare and package 10,000 meals per day based upon demand
and available funding.
In the spring of 2020 the city became aware that OKC was providing meals to one or more groups
providing food assistance in Carlsbad. At that time, city staff believed OKC was working directly
with locations like Tyler Court and the Church of the Advent to provide meals through various
delivery methods. City staff engaged with OKC to gather additional information about their
operations in Carlsbad and the capability of OKC to supplement city food assistance if the need
were to arise. At that time the Assistant Director of Emergency Services assessed food assistance
needs in Carlsbad and determined that they were being met through the county-funded Senior
Center meal program.
On July 2, 2020, the city received a general letter to North County Cities regarding OKC program
priorities and outcomes (Attachment A). On July 7, 2020, city staff began engaging with OKC to
evaluate the food assistance that they were providing in Carlsbad.
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Aug. 18,2020
Page 4
OKC is feeding at-risk community members by preparing packaged ready-to-eat and frozen meals
to support local seniors, immunocompromised, and otherwise food insecure individuals. They
work with a network of pre-existing non-profit organizations that provide food support.
On July 15, 2020, OKC provided information regarding ineals that had been delivered. According
to OKC's director of operations a total of 17,393 meals were served in Carlsbad. 2,504 were
provided to seniors, 2,925 were provided to sheltered homeless, 5,884 were provided to
unsheltered homeless, and 6,240 were provided to food insecure families.
According to a discussion with OKC's director of operations, the meals are made and packed at
the Oceanside facility and then various organizations pick them up for delivery. On Aug.7, 2020,
city staff requested more information regarding the names of the organizations that delivered
the meals, but we have yet to receive a response. It is our understanding that the meals being
provided in Carlsbad are funded by donations, grants, and purchased by charitable organizations
that then deliver the meals. The price of each meal is approximately $10. OKC states that they
have also hired displaced workers affected by COVID-19 layoffs.
OKC believe they have the capacity to provide 10,000 meals per day from their facility but lack
funding to do so. They have reached out to all the North County cities to request support.
Based on our evaluation OKC is providing a valuable service in North County by producing meals
for purchase and distribution by non-profit organizations that provide food assistance. The
organization also takes a sustainable approach to food waste which is commendable. The
mission of OKC and the service it provides is an asset to North County.
Discussion
Based upon a cross-departmental review of existing food assistance and emergency food
assistance programs operating in Carlsbad, a specific or significant need for additional food
assistance has not been identified:
Existing food assistance for seniors during COVID-19 was able to scale up as demand increased
and has tapered off as the pandemic has extended. With the city run senior meal program,
county programs, and programs provided by non-profit organizations a demonstrable need for
additional food assistance to seniors during COVID-19 has not been identified.
CDBG funded programs are also providing food assistance to those in need. Organizations that
are seeking funding to provide food assistance in Carlsbad will be encouraged to participate in
the NOFA in the Spring of 2021. If additional COVID-19 related federal funding becomes available
through CDBG, organizations will have an opportunity to apply. ·
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Aug. 18,2020
Page 5
Food assistance provided by non-profit organizations continue to support the food insecure.
Coordination with these organizations should continue to understand the needs of the food
insecure and how those needs are being addressed through public and non-profit programs.
Other opportunities to expand the city's financial support for food assistance programs exist
through the annual budget process or as directed by the City Council.
Next Steps
City staff will continue to monitor the emergency food assistance needs of Carlsbad residents
during COVID-19. Staff will coordinate with public and non-profit organizations to continue to
monitor the food assistance needs of seniors, unsheltered homeless, sheltered homeless, food
insecure families, and others affected by food insecurity. Ongoing engagement with the
community, non-profit organizations that provide food assistance, and the county will continue
to inform the city's approach to providing food assistance. lfthe City Council would like to
pursue the expansion of food assistance by contracting with a non-profit organization the
necessary funding would need to be allocated and any relevant city procurement rules would
need to be followed.
Attachment: A. Oceanside Kitchen Collaborative Letter
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Aug. 18,2020
Attachment A
Page 6
To whom it may concern,
O'side Kitchen Collaborative (OKC) has identified the following need for North county cities with
respect to emergency food services. We have been able to meet this need partially through the
financial participation of the City of Oceanside as well as by self-supporting through donations,
fundraising, and volunteer enrollment activities. You will find there remains an unmet need in San
Diego County. We are requesting that the Cities of Carlsbad, Encinitas, Vista, San Marcos, and
Escondido participate in meeting this urgent and critical need to feed its residents by closing
funding gaps for this emergency response program.
O'side Kitchen Collaborative operates a 1,700 sq. ft. state-of-the-art food preservation kitchen. In
light of this current situation, the City of Oceanside has granted OKC the.sole use of the building
our kitchen resides in as well. This includes an additional 2,300 sq. ft. of meal packaging space.
OKC is able to prepare and package 10,000 meals per day with proper funding. We continue to
collect donated equipment from area casinos, resorts, and businesses with large catering
operations that are currently experiencing closures as well as accepting donations of ingredients
and supplies from large businesses. our list of partners for this community response effort
includes over 50 local businesses.
Program Priorities/Outcomes:
1. OKC is feeding our at-risk community members by preparing packaged ready-to-eat and
frozen meals to support local seniors, immunocompromised, and otherwise food insecure
individuals including children currently enrolled in free lunch program with K-12 schools.
Meals are provided free of charge to individuals in need.
2. OKC is mobilizing a network of pre-existing non-profit organizations who are working
directly with feeding organizations versus individuals. Organizations with an unmet need
coordinate pick up of multiple meals from our facility on a daily basis and coordinate
distribution amongst their own recipients. All receiving organizations are encouraged to
provide funding or in kind donations.
3. OKC is injecting cash into the local restaurant industry by purchasing local restaurants'
at-risk food inventory as funding is available .
4. OKC is implementing creative partnerships with the local restaurant industry to include local
restaurants in our meal output, thereby increasing our per day capacity above 10,000 meals.
5. OKC is supporting displaced workers by hiring employees affected by temporary restaurant/
foodservice closures .
Since the shelter-in-place mandate: O'side Kitchen Collaborative has served over
170,000 meals to at-risk San Diego County residents .
Unmet Need:
721 prepared meals,
450 grocery packs per week (7 meals each)
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Aug. 18,2020
Page 7
• cantebria senior Homes (Oceanside) -46 meals to be provided daily
• Station Church (Vista) -75 meals to be provided daily
• North County Sober Living (Vista/Oceanside) -450 meals to be provided daily
• San Luis Rey Mobile Home Park (Oceanside)-150 meals to be provided daily
• **North County Health Services (Oceanside/CarlsbadNista/San Marcos/Escondido) -450
grocery packs to be provided weekly
**NCHS grocery packs: North county Health Services is requesting grocery packs of
non-perishables to aid their health care workers. The workers at their clinics work hours that
make it difficult to get to the grocery store and are requesting the help of O'side Kitchen
Collaborative to feed themselves and their families. Packs may contain, but are not limited to, a
mix of the following: cereal, fresh fruit, juice, canned soup/legumes/fruit/vegetables, nut butters,
jellies or jams, pasta, rice , sauce, granola or snack bars, root vegetables, and other food to be
determined. we should be doing everything we can in this time to maintain the mental and
physical health of those on the front lines of this crisis, and food security will go a long way
toward achieving those goals. Without outreach activities, these numbers reflect organizations
which have reached out to O'side Kitchen Collaborative directly or through Oceanside Homeless
Resource, our largest community
O'side Kitchen Collaborative is an initiative of
Feeding the Soul Foundation, a 501(c)3 charity partner during the COVID-19 emergency
response . We feel that with a minimal amount of prompting, these numbers could easily be
doubled or tripled based on what we have observed in Oceanside.
The City of Oceanside has responded to this need by providing for 500 meals to support OKC
meeting this need. The price per meal, $10.77, includes funds for out-of-work Oceanside food
service workers and provides funds for the purchase of food inventories that would have gone to
waste from restaurants experiencing temporary closures. These measures are critical to
supporting the local restaurant industry. our contract with the City of Oceanside has been
extended on a declining scale over the next 4 weeks we would love to be able to extend
assistance to Carlsbad as soon as possible and are looking for funding to do so.
The largest roadblock we are encountering is funding . There has been a significant outpouring of
generosity from the community, but many of the individuals and businesses who have donated
are also being impacted by COVID-19. We were being funded for 500 meals per day by the City
of Oceanside. This is a fraction of our 10,000 meal per day capacity, given proper funding. We
look forward to working with Carlsbad and other cities of North county to provide for the critical
needs of our most at-risk citizens .
\Aflrm Regards ,
Mike Perez
O'side Kitchen Collaborative