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Volunteers report Green Bag Project has collected more than 257,000 pounds of food since 2018
Summary
A Ridgefield volunteer told the council the Green Bag Project collected roughly 257,573 pounds of food since 2018, including 58,851 pounds in 2025; donors have also given cash contributions, the speaker said.
Ridgefield — During public comment at the Feb. 12 Ridgefield City Council meeting, volunteer Bill Bowman provided year‑by‑year results for the Green Bag Project, a community food‑collection effort.
Bowman told the council that the project collected 47,119 pounds of food in 2024 and 58,851 pounds in 2025, bringing the program total since 2018 to 257,573 pounds. He also reported donation totals: $9,362 in 2024 and $10,910 in 2025, and told the council the cumulative donations totaled $56,386. Using a food‑bank valuation figure of $1.72 per pound cited by Bowman, he said the in‑kind value of the food collected amounts to about $443,025; combined with donations, the speaker said the program has generated more than a half‑million dollars in food and money for local distribution.
Bowman described the project’s origins in 2018 and its growth to current collection levels. Mayor Matt Cole and council members thanked Bowman for the report during public comment.
What the council heard - 2018–2025 cumulative food collected (reported by speaker): 257,573 pounds. - 2024: 47,119 pounds collected; donations $9,362 (speaker’s figures). - 2025: 58,851 pounds collected; donations $10,910 (speaker’s figures). - Speaker’s valuation: $1.72 per pound, producing an estimated in‑kind value of about $443,025; combined with donations, the speaker characterized the program’s community contribution as more than $500,000.
Caveat Numbers and valuation were provided by a project volunteer during public comment and were not independently verified during the meeting. The transcript shows the volunteer’s figures and calculations as reported to council.
Next steps Council did not take formal action on the report but expressed appreciation. The Green Bag Project continues to collect donations and distribute food locally; volunteers and council members encouraged community participation.
Source: public comment at Ridgefield City Council meeting transcript (Feb. 12, 2026).
