Weekly Update - November 11, 2022 | |
Veterans Honored at Board of Supervisors Meeting | |
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The Board of Supervisors honored Veterans Day with a Ceremony at their Board of Supervisors' meeting on November 8th.
Pictured at left, Supervisor Andersen stands with two of her colleagues from the San Ramon Valley, Michelle Lee, who serves on the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, and Mark Armstrong, San Ramon City Councilman. Both are distinguished veterans who not only serve in local government but continue to give back to our veterans' community.
If you wish to see the County’s Veteran’s Day ceremony, it can be viewed here starting at the 2:35 mark.
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Holiday Food Fight!
Help Local Families in Your County With a
Donation to the Food Bank
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Once again, in 2022 Contra Costa and Solano counties will compete to raise funds for the Food Bank. This friendly competition, spearheaded by individual county departments, has raised nearly $2.6 million since 2003. The county that raises the most funds per employee will win the Big Apple trophy. The trophy and bragging rights pass back and forth annually, but the real winners are the recipients of the funds you raise, those who need the help the most in our communities.
To join Supervisor Andersen in helping fight hunger by donating to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County, click here.
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Keep Family and Friends Healthy This Holiday Season | |
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We are approaching the winter holidays, which means people will be getting together with family and loved ones. It’s a great time to give thanks, get gifts, spread joy – and germs.
Here are some tips for having a healthy holiday season:
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Get tested before an indoor gathering or if you feel sick. Reduce the chances of infecting someone else with COVID by finding out if you have the virus. Make sure to stock up on home test kits.
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Stay up to date on your COVID vaccinations. Upgrade your protection by getting the latest bivalent booster shot, which protects against Omicron variants. Vaccines remain your best defense against hospitalization and death from COVID. Find a COVID vaccine provider near you.
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Get your annual flu shot now. Health officials are expecting a bad flu season. Get protected now before flu season kicks into high gear. Find a flu vaccine provider near you.
Go here for more suggestions on staying healthy this holiday season.
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November is National Adoption Month | |
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The Board of Supervisors proclaimed November as National Adoption Month in Contra Costa County. The goal is to celebrate our community’s adoptive families and raise awareness about the number of children and teens who are still waiting for a permanent home.
If you have an interest in fostering or adopting a child, mandatory orientations are held on a regular basis. At these orientations, policies and the types of children needing families are discussed in detail. f you have any questions, please call the Adoptions/Homefinding Unit at (925) 602-6910 for more information.
To learn about one of the families who has taken in children looking for a home, click on the heartwarming video below. Since the video was created, this family has also taken in a baby girl.
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Cleaner Contra Costa FALL CHALLENGE: November Update! | |
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Haven't joined the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge yet? Now is the time to get sustainable! This free website provides a list of actionable steps you can take to save water, energy, waste, and money. When we work together as a community, we can hit some impressive goals - like saving over 1000 tons of CO2 by the end of this year! Bonus - you can also earn prizes along the way.
Be sure to check off any action that you have completed on Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge in order to have your points, water savings, and CO2 reduction count for Contra Costa.
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VESTIA Holiday Helpers Program | |
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The VESTIA Holiday Helpers program has changed to increase impact in the community. Despite the pandemic shutdown for 3 years, the VESTIA board of Directors and Volunteer & Emergency Services staff have continued to provide support for the most vulnerable residents of Contra Costa County through community grants.
In lieu of gifts, please donate to the Holiday Helpers program to help support vulnerable children and families in VESTIA's partnership with other nonprofits in the community.
To date, the Holiday Helpers program has provided support to the following organizations:
• Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano
• Employment & Human Services – Children & Family Services Bureau
• Bay Point Community All-N-One
• Love a Child Mission
• Monument Crisis Center
• West County Youth Services Bureau
To learn more about VESTIA and other ways you can volunteer or donate, visit VESTIA.
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Contra Costa Health Services (CHSS) and the Contra Costa Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) is holding its final session of 3 joint Town Halls to get input on what housing-related and homelessness-related services should be prioritized in the first year.
Measure X is a voter-approved 20-year tax initiative that will provide funding for many critical services in Contra Costa County, including services for people at-risk of homelessness and experiencing homelessness. On November 16, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved and committed a portion of Measure X funds for the creation of the Measure X Housing Fund to support the development of new affordable housing, housing-related services (including homeless prevention services), innovation/capacity building activities, and homeless crisis response services.
Please register for the final session below.
Town Hall #3
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Register: https://homebaseccc.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArd-yvqT4oHdcLr6twos0-rmpOpG3q7OUQ
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November is Homelessness Awareness Month | |
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November is Homelessness Awareness Month. The 2022 Homelessness Awareness Month Toolkit includes opportunities to Learn, Engage and Recognize.
- Data on homelessness in Contra Costa
- Information about what cities are doing to address homelessness
- How to connect to services with special guidance for families, Transition Aged Youth, older adults and veterans
- Calendar of events
- Opportunities to volunteer and donate, with special guidance for landlords and faith communities
- Recognition of people with lived experience of homelessness, outstanding volunteers and outstanding landlords in our community
To learn how you can help go to Homelessness Awareness.
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Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Webinar: The Future of Freeways
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Freeway traffic hasn’t just returned – it’s worsening – and it will continue to deteriorate the Bay Area’s transportation system if we don’t shift gears.
To that end, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is exploring new strategies to better manage Bay Area congestion more sustainably and equitably, while also addressing lasting impacts of 20th-century policies. As part of this effort, MTC will conduct two webinars on The Future of Freeways to inform participants about the challenges and opportunities before us and to collect community input to help envision the future of this vital infrastructure.
Join the conversation live and let's craft solutions for the Bay Area, together.
- Webinar #1
- Thursday, November 17, 2022, | 12–1:30 p.m.
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Participate on Zoom
- Webinar ID: 895 1811 8931
- Passcode: 440623
- Call in: (408) 638-0968 or (669) 444-9171
- Webinar #2
- Tuesday, November 29, 2022, | 6-7:30 p.m.
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Participate on Zoom
- Webinar ID: 830 5959 1588
- Passcode: 393107
- Call in: (408) 638-0968 or (669) 444-9171
Please note: the information shared at both webinars will be the same.
Can’t join live? The webinar recording will be posted on or after November 18. Comments are welcome - submit them here.
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Local Blood Drives - Help Save Lives! | |
Getting Tested in Contra Costa County | |
To Read the Latest Contra Costa Covid-19 Information and To See the Data Summary, Visit COVID-19 updates | |
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Contra Costa County Announces Innovation
Fund Grant Program
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Contra Costa County is seeking ideas for innovative projects that respond to local public service needs, can improve equitable access to public services, can remove structural barriers that cause inequities and poverty, provide the greatest impact for every dollar spent, and have the potential for transformative change.
Up to $2 Million in grants will be made available on a competitive basis to nonprofit, tax-exempt community-based organizations to fund the planning and implementation of one or more selected projects in the following categories:
1. Safe & Engaged Communities – Improving health, wellness, and public safety outcomes through community outreach/awareness, education, and engagement.
2. Agriculture and Food Systems – Improving environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity.
3. Economic Vitality – Providing education, job training, decent jobs, and viable businesses to reduce the number of people at a poverty level.
4. Clean & Sustainable (Clean and Green) Environment – Safe food and water, proper waste disposal, clean air, pest control; preventing waste.
5. Reliable & Accessible Infrastructure – Modernization, technology, or equity in digital access, cybersecurity, and resilience.
Phase 1 of the Innovation Fund grant process offers Five Thousand ($5,000) to each of up to ten (10) selected projects to fund the development of a comprehensive Phase 2 Project Grant proposal.
Statements of Qualifications and Concept Papers may be submitted no later than 3:00 p.m. on November 28, 2022, by clicking on the Grant Portal.
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Would You Like to Serve on a Contra Costa County Committee, Commission, or Board? There are Opportunities Available | |
District 2 Volunteer Opportunities | |
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Alamo Police Services Advisory Committee (CSA P-2B/APSAC)
To advise the Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff's Department on the needs of the Alamo/Danville community for police services.
1 Regular Seat
1 Alternate Seat
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
To advise the Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff's Department on the needs of the Alamo community for police services.
The Measure X Community Advisory Board - Supervisor Andersen is seeking an individual that represents broad and diverse voices, and perspectives. To be considered for this seat, candidates must either live or work in District 2. The Community Advisory Board currently meets monthly. Currently, the meetings are via online conferencing. For more information about Measure X, please click here.
Fish and Wildlife Committee - The Board of Supervisors is now accepting applications from individuals to fill two (2) At-Large Member Seats on the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee. Existing members seeking reappointment and individuals seeking a new appointment may apply. Applications are due by November 30, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. For more information regarding the Fish and Wildlife Committee, please visit the Committee’s website at https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/4317/Fish-Wildlife-Committee-FWC. A fillable application is available on the website for your convenience.
Find out more information about volunteering for an advisory body here co.contra-costa.ca.us/3418. To apply online go to www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/.
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