Annual Winter FOOD BANK Challenge

Thank You from the Food bank of Contra Costa and Solano COunties

Dawn Manley, Food & Fun Drive Coordinator, and Caitlin Sly, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties share their heartfelt thanks for the $50,000 in donations raised by Lab employees in December. Those donations equal 100,000 meals for families served by FBCCS.

The Lab’s support for food banks includes regular volunteer opportunities. Check out service.lbl.gov for more information.

Congratulations: Over $756K Raised since 2020!

For the fifth consecutive year, the Berkeley Lab community joined together for a Winter Food Bank Challenge to support the Alameda County Community Food Bank and the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano.

Lab teams raised $138,998, and Berkeley Lab donated an additional $10,000 in matching funds, bringing our five-year donation total to over $756,998!

Special thanks go to the Biosciences and Operations Directorate team, which beat its 2023 totals by $5,404, raising $58,027. As the winning team of our friendly yearly contest, the Lab donated $5,000 to each of our partner food banks in the winning team’s name. Congratulations to team captains Trent Northen and Jacque De Vera and to the other team captains for their generous efforts in support of the challenge.

The true winners are the food banks that support our community. Food banks need year-round support, and they typically experience a significant drop in volunteer numbers during the first few months of the year. Please consider volunteering with and/or donating to your local food bank.

Friendly Contest...With a Twist

We are making a change to the friendly competition this year. In years past, the winning team has been the one that's raised the most money. This year, each team will compete against themselves, with a goal to raise more than they did last year.

The winning team would be the one that raises the most money above the amount it raised last year.
To support this friendly competition, the Lab’s $10,000 matching donation will be made in the winning team’s name.
Additionally, each co-captain will get 1,500 Bucketlist points to redeem.

The Teams

To ensure that there are equally sized teams and to encourage collaboration between science and operations, we have sorted the following areas/divisions into 6 teams. You will be hearing from your team captains soon.

Biosciences Area + Operations Directorate

Computing Sciences Area + HR + IT

Earth & Environmental Sciences Area + CFO + Facilities

Energy Sciences Area + Advanced Light Source - U + Security & Emergency Services

Energy Technologies Area + Directorate + Environment, Health & Safety

Physical Sciences Area + Projects & Infrastructure Modernization

If you've made a donation to a food bank outside of Alameda or Contra Costa County, we'd love to hear about it! Please send an email to challenge@lbl.gov with the name of the food bank and the donated amount, and we'll add it to your team's total.

HOW YOU CAN make a difference!

Step 1: Volunteer YOUR TIME

Sign up to volunteer as an individual by visiting the links below:

If you volunteer, tell us about it by logging in your hours to service.lbl.gov. (How to log your hours)

Step 2: CONTRIBUTE TO - AND HELP Spread the word about - our virtual donation drive

Berkeley Lab is supporting local food banks by hosting virtual donation drives. Cash donations go farther because food banks have bulk/wholesale agreements and greater buying power than the average consumer.

Please consider making a contribution by clicking on the links for your team above, and helping spread the word about the virtual donation drive with your colleagues, family, friends, neighbors, and professional networks.

Alameda County Community Food Bank

For over 30 years, the Alameda County Community Food Bank has stood by our unwavering belief that food is a basic human right. We distribute millions of healthy meals every year, and are on the forefront of new approaches to ending hunger and poverty.

Mission: Alameda County Community Food Bank passionately pursues a hunger-free community.

Vision: Children, adults and seniors of Alameda County do not worry about where their next meal is coming from.

Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano

Started in 1975, the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano stores and distributes donated and purchased perishable and nonperishable food items. It distributes food directly to low-income people at community sites and makes food available for other nonprofit organizations serving the ill, needy and children. The Food Bank works to reduce food waste, feed hungry people and raise public awareness of issues related to food and hunger.