Solano County's Restaurant Resiliency Program
This fundraiser, organized by the Solano Small Business Development Center, is raising funds to continue the Restaurant Resiliency Program of Solano County, a program launched in June of 2021 to support families and individuals facing food insecurities and local restaurants severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is the Restaurant Resiliency Program of Solano County?
The Restaurant Resiliency Program of Solano County was created utilizing $100,000 in funding from Wells Fargo Bank. The Solano Small Business Development Center and the Workforce Development Board of Solano County have partnered with restaurants, caterers and food trucks in Fairfield and Vallejo to deliver weekly meals to area families and individuals facing food insecurities.
The restaurants, all locally-owned small businesses, are reimbursed $25 for every meal they provide to the program. There are currently 18 Fairfield restaurants and 15 Vallejo restaurants participating.
“Any restaurant in Vallejo or Fairfield was eligible to participate in this program but we did give priority to the locally-owned small restaurants with 15 or fewer employees because we know those are the ones that have been hardest hit by the pandemic,” said Tim Murrill, director of the Solano SBDC. “We are so grateful for the generosity of Wells Fargo that will benefit our restaurants and low-income individuals in our community.” 
The $100,000, 20-week program will bring 2,000 meals to Vallejo families and individuals through Fighting Back Partnership and 1,200 meals to Fairfield families via the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District's Family Resource Center. Both agencies provide services and programs for families and individuals with the most critical socio-economic needs. Meals are distributed every Thursday through the community partners. All dinners are hot and include at least one entree and a vegetable.
“Now more than ever, we understand that coordination and partnerships with local businesses and agencies are critical to ensure the needs of our community are met," said said Marbeya Ellis, FSUSD Family Resource Manager. "The FSUSD Anna Kyle FRC is excited to be partnering with the Workforce Development Board and Solano Small Business Development in launching this new program."
"Our mission statement supports this innovative/visionary program, as the team at Fighting Back Partnership continue to uplift the outstanding residents and businesses in Vallejo and throughout Solano," added Dr. Melvinia Turner King, Executive Director, Fighting Back Partnership.
Current funding will allow this program to continue through the middle of October.
“Supporting our hardest hit small local restaurants in keeping their doors open and retaining jobs, while also addressing the regional crisis of food insecurity, gives us great hope as we rebuild and recover together.” said Erica Trejo, Wells Fargo Senior Vice President of Social Impact and Sustainability.
How will additional funding be used?
All donations for the Restaurant Resiliency Program will be used to expand the program beyond the initial 20 weeks and bring in additional restaurants, including those from outside Fairfield and Vallejo. Priority will be given to restaurants with less than 15 employees who can demonstrate a significant financial impact from the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can learn more about the Restaurant Resiliency Program at www.solanosbdc.org/restaurant-resiliency-program/ or check out this press release .
