Council closes out $246,113 CDBG COVID-era grant for mobile food pantry; city to submit final closeout documents

The council on Dec. 2 approved staff’s recommendation to accept final accomplishments and close out a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) COVID‑era award that funded a mobile market and food pantry services.

Staff reported the CDBG public‑service grant totaled $246,113 and was part of additional COVID relief funding. Sarah Campbell, representing the food pantry and the Redwood Food Bank family resource center (as noted in the staff presentation), described the mobile market and brick‑and‑mortar expansions supported by the award.

According to the staff presentation, the mobile market reached 857 unique households and 2,466 individuals, including 360 new households (1,007 individuals) in 2023; the January–September 2024 period produced 5,958 visits from 2,027 unique households with 5,497 individuals. Staff said roughly 95 percent of patrons were low‑ to moderate‑income and that 63 cents remained unspent on the grant. Bridget Lacey, the city grants coordinator, was referenced as the staff contact for the grant closeout.

Councilor (motion maker not specified in the public transcript) moved to approve final accomplishments under contract number 20‑CDBG‑CV2‑3‑00230 and to direct staff to submit the final closeout documents to the California Department of Housing and Community Development; the motion carried without recorded opposition.

Staff said the city has used multiple CDBG rounds to support the food pantry and that further funding efforts are planned.