City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MARCH 13, 2020
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of an Allocation of City Funds to the ACTNow COVID-19 Response Fund and for an ALIVE Food Bank Bulk Food Purchase.
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ISSUE: Consideration of providing $100,000 in City funds to match funds raised by the ACTNow COVID-19 Response Fund, and $20,000 for a bulk food purchase.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council:
1. Authorize the allocation of $100,000 of City matching funds to the ACTNow COVID-19 Response Fund;
2. Authorize the allocation of $20,000 to ALIVE to purchase bulk food equivalent to 17,000 meals; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents required.
BACKGROUND: The City and ACT for Alexandria (ACT) recognize that COVID-19 and the necessary public health measures to address how this virus will affect our community, particularly those most vulnerable who rely on our safety net services. In the weeks and months ahead there will be major disruptions in the normal operations of everyone in our community. ACT has stood up the ACTNow Fund to solicit donations from the community with a goal of matching $100,000. It is proposed that the City add to this effort by allocating $100,000 to increase the Fund goal to $200,000 and increase the amount of resources available for local needs.
In response to the federal shutdown of late 2018 and early 2019, the City and ACT partnered to create the ACTNow Fund so that area non-profits could nimbly apply and receive grants to support the increased needs of workers and their families who were impacted by the lack of work and were suffering various, food, housing, medical and other financial hardships. At that time the City and ACT contributed $25,000 each for a total of $50,000. During that event more than $...
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