Sonoma Valley Food Security
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 and shelter-in-place order. The new Sonoma Valley Food Security Task Force is working collaboratively to mitigate the economic and social challenges faced by our community over the coming weeks and months.
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.
How You Can Help: DONATE
Financial donations are critically needed at this time to support existing organizations like the Redwood Empire Food Bank (REFB), who is the primary food resource provider in the Valley, with many existing food programs and over 13 local partnerships including F.I.S.H (Friends in Sonoma Helping) and Vintage House. Your contributions will help bolster these providers as they ramp up their food programs and other basic assistance to meet increased community needs.
Learn more here about this week's Drive-Thru and Virtual Food Drive for REFB.
How You Can 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.
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/.
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.