Coronavirus: How You Can Help
Every member of our community can make a difference in how Sonoma Valley gets through the coronavirus pandemic. Here are five important ways you can help keep Sonoma healthy:
- Take steps to protect yourself and others, and follow public health orders and guidelines.
- Seek help if you need it. Resources are available to help you take care of yourself and your family.
- Donate if you can. Please see the links below.
- Volunteer if you can. Please see the information below.
- Support our local businesses, especially over the important holiday shopping season. Many contact-free local shopping options are available.
How to Help: DONATE
Financial donations are critically needed at this time to support organizations like the Redwood Empire Food Bank, which is the primary food resource provider in the Valley with many existing food programs and over 13 local partnerships including Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH) and Vintage House. The recently formed Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund is responding to the impact of the COVID pandemic on our Valley’s most vulnerable populations by identifying gaps in services and raising funds to enable nonprofits to fill them in innovative ways.
Financial donations are critically needed at this time to support organizations like the Redwood Empire Food Bank, which is the primary food resource provider in the Valley with many existing food programs and over 13 local partnerships including Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH) and Vintage House. The recently formed Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund is responding to the impact of the COVID pandemic on our Valley’s most vulnerable populations by identifying gaps in services and raising funds to enable nonprofits to fill them in innovative ways.
How to Help: VOLUNTEER
The majority of Sonoma Valley’s existing volunteer base is made up of dedicated residents aged 60 years and older, who have higher risk from COVID-19. With many regular volunteers unable to fulfill their normal roles, local organizations have struggled to find replacements. As the need for services surges as a result of the coronavirus crisis, there is an immediate and acute need for new volunteer support in Sonoma Valley.
Led by the Sonoma Ecology Center and Sustainable Sonoma, the Task Force has launched a volunteer web page at SonomaValleyVolunteers.org to help match organizations and volunteers to meet the Sonoma Valley community's evolving needs. Sonoma Valley Volunteers will allow volunteers to sign up to help with the organizations of their choice, and is regularly updated with new volunteer opportunities.
The majority of Sonoma Valley’s existing volunteer base is made up of dedicated residents aged 60 years and older, who have higher risk from COVID-19. With many regular volunteers unable to fulfill their normal roles, local organizations have struggled to find replacements. As the need for services surges as a result of the coronavirus crisis, there is an immediate and acute need for new volunteer support in Sonoma Valley.
Led by the Sonoma Ecology Center and Sustainable Sonoma, the Task Force has launched a volunteer web page at SonomaValleyVolunteers.org to help match organizations and volunteers to meet the Sonoma Valley community's evolving needs. Sonoma Valley Volunteers will allow volunteers to sign up to help with the organizations of their choice, and is regularly updated with new volunteer opportunities.
Community leaders have joined together to launch a broad-based coalition to ensure all Sonoma Valley residents are food secure during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Sonoma Valley Food Security Task Force is working collaboratively to mitigate the economic and social challenges faced by our community. The goal: to significantly increase funding resources for local non-profit organizations that provide food programs and other basic needs services, and to shore up the volunteer networks needed to ensure that food is promptly and effectively distributed throughout the valley.
Is Someone You Know in Need of Assistance?
Find the food assistance calendar and other resources available during this crisis at sonomacity.org/coronavirus-resources/.
Find the food assistance calendar and other resources available during this crisis at sonomacity.org/coronavirus-resources/.
Food Security Task Force Participants
Coordinators:
Logan Harvey, Mayor, City of Sonoma
Kimberly Blattner, Alcaldessa 2020 and Board President of La Luz Center
Veronica Napoles, Springs Community Alliance
Jennifer Gray Thompson, Executive Director of the Rebuild North Bay Foundation
Organizations include:
Vintage House
Sonoma Valley Unified School District
Sonoma Valley Education Foundation
La Luz Center
Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH)
SOS/The Haven
Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce
Sonoma Ecology Center
Sustainable Sonoma
Rebuild North Bay
Impact 100
Volunteer Center of Sonoma County
Meals on Wheels
Additional Redwood Empire Food Bank partners include Village Green II Senior Apartments, FAHA, Oak Ridge, First Congregational Church, St. Leo's Church.
Public sector partners include the City of Sonoma, Supervisor Susan Gorin, State Senator Bill Dodd, and Congressman Mike Thompson.
Coordinators:
Logan Harvey, Mayor, City of Sonoma
Kimberly Blattner, Alcaldessa 2020 and Board President of La Luz Center
Veronica Napoles, Springs Community Alliance
Jennifer Gray Thompson, Executive Director of the Rebuild North Bay Foundation
Organizations include:
Vintage House
Sonoma Valley Unified School District
Sonoma Valley Education Foundation
La Luz Center
Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH)
SOS/The Haven
Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce
Sonoma Ecology Center
Sustainable Sonoma
Rebuild North Bay
Impact 100
Volunteer Center of Sonoma County
Meals on Wheels
Additional Redwood Empire Food Bank partners include Village Green II Senior Apartments, FAHA, Oak Ridge, First Congregational Church, St. Leo's Church.
Public sector partners include the City of Sonoma, Supervisor Susan Gorin, State Senator Bill Dodd, and Congressman Mike Thompson.