Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Saint Stephen Community Services, Inc., a non-profit corporation, in support of Christmas Cares/Unions Share 2025.
St. Stephen’s Community House & the Central Ohio Labor Council, AFL-CIO are collaborating for its 71st year to brighten the holiday season for those individuals and families who find themselves in a critical position due to situations such as stretched incomes, job lay-offs, today’s economy, and rising food costs. In 2024, St. Stephen’s and the AFL-CIO served 3,200 households, distributing 120 pounds of food - meat, grains, non-perishables, fresh produce and frozen foods to each household. This request of $60,000.00 would cover the purchase of turkeys for 3,300 households.
Council deems the distribution of food and non-alcoholic beverages associated with Christmas Cares/Union Shares to be in the pubic interest in that it serves to mitigate the impact of food insecurity.
Fiscal Impact: $60,000.00 will be expended from available funds within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Saint Stephen Community Services, Inc. in support of Christmas Cares/Unions Share; and to authorize an expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund. ($60,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Christmas Cares/Unions Share is a collaboration between St. Stephen's Community House and the Central Ohio Labor Council as well as many community partners; and
WHEREAS, the goal of the program is to help with food insecurity during the Christmas Holiday through the distribution of a 100-pound food basket to those households who are finding themselves in a financial hardship due to job layoffs, fixed/stretched incomes, evictions, or rising costs of rent and utilities; and
WHEREAS, this is the 71st year of Christmas Care/Unions Share; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Saint Stephen Community Services, Inc. in support of Christmas Cares/Unions Share.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $60,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1, is authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance, and that all or part of said expenditure may be used for the purpose of procuring food and non-alcoholic beverages, which City Council hereby finds to be for a proper public purpose, provided however that, in no case may food or alcoholic beverage expenses incurred prior to the effective date of this Ordinance be paid or reimbursed from funds authorized by this Ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this Ordinance are deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That this Ordinance shall take effect at the earliest date allowable by law.