Sonoma Valley Food Program Directory
Sonoma Methodist Church
Food Programs in the Sonoma Valley
Research for the Sonoma Methodist Church
Introduction: This report is a survey of food aid sources for low income people living in
Sonoma County with a focus on the Sonoma Valley. It includes bulk food distribution, soup
kitchens, brown bag lunches and home delivered meals. Some organizations listed also give small
grants for rental assistance, utilities, etc. All of the sources listed offer emergency or temporary
relief; none of them address systemic issues.
Format: Each food source listed has an address, contact information, perhaps a contact
person, service area, days and times services are available, if available, a mission statement, recent
performance statistics and comments where appropriate.
Organizations Contacted
1. Redwood Empire Food Bank (REFB)
3990 Brickway Blvd
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Hrs: Mon-Fri. 8:00 am – 4:30pm
Contact: Gail Atkins, Director of Programs
ph: 707-523-7900
website: refb.org
Mission: To end hunger in our community.
Service Area: Sonoma County
REFB distributes 6500 tons (13.8 million lbs) of food per year in Sonoma County, providing food
for an estimated 78,000 persons each month. REFB has 175 active partners, who can shop for food
at REFB at greatly discounted prices. There are five partners in the Sonoma Valley: St Leo Catholic
Church, the Boys and Girls Club, the Valley of the Moon Teen Center, FISH, and the Haven
(Sonoma Overnight Shelter and the Brown Baggers Lunch Program). In addition, REFB also
provides free food directly to people in need. REFB staff distributes food at La Luz every 3rd
Wednesday, at Vintage House on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays and at Faith Lutheran Church on the
first Wednesday of each month.
During 2007-08, when the recession first hit, REFB saw a jump of 10,000 requests for food aid.
2008-09 and 2009-10 each saw an increase of 8,000 requests. Requests for food assistance have
leveled off at 78,000 people a month during the past three years. However, uncertainty about
proposed cuts in federally funded aid programs makes the future unclear.
A recent REFB study revealed that almost 40% of all food recipients are children under 18 years of
age. Sixty-one percent of food recipients live at or below the federal poverty level ($22,050/yr for a
family of four.) An estimated 59,300 people living in Sonoma County are food insecure. Almost
44% are children; 15% are seniors and 17.3% are working families.
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2. Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH)
P.O. Box 507
Sonoma, CA 95476-0507
Contact: Dispatcher
ph: 707-996-0111
website:friendsinsonomahelping.org
email: SonomaFISH@gmail.com
Hrs: Mon. – Fri. 9:00 am -5:00 pm (rides, clothing, etc.)
Call Mon. –Fri. 9:00 am 12:00 noon for food aid; pick up 1:30pm same day.
Mission: Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH) provides emergency help to residents experiencing
financial hardships in our community at no charge. FISH offers a caring bridge, keeping families
from living in hunger and without shelter.
Service Area: The Sonoma Valley from Glen Ellen to Schellville.
Services Provided: From Mon. – Fri., 9 am to 5 pm phone dispatchers receive calls for assistance
with food, rent, clothing, utilities, rides and gasoline, which are passed on to the area coordinator
who links those in need with the service FISH Provides. Call 9 am until 12 noon for food only.
Emergency Food Boxes - FISH provides a 3 day supply of nutritious groceries to needy
households. The amount of food received depends on family size. Each caller may request a box of
food once a month for up to three times a year.
First Wednesday - On the first Wednesday of every month between 9 am–10:30, FISH volunteers
operate the Federal Food Surplus Giveaway at Faith Lutheran Church on Arnold Drive. The food
comes from REFB. Those without transportation may request a home delivery.
Senior Food Supplement - On the 3rd Tuesday of each month FISH volunteers provide a
supplemental food delivery to homebound seniors.
Clothes Closet - FISH provides clean, usable clothing free at its Clothes Closet on Tues., Fri., and
Sat. from 10 am to 12 noon and on Weds. From 1 pm to 3 pm.
Layettes – Standard layette items, including disposable diapers, are provided for new mothers.
Transportation – Volunteer drivers provide free rides to medical and social service appointments
for non-drivers. This service covers rides to Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Napa, Vallejo, Marin and San
Francisco. Those who can ride public transportation may request free bus tickets.
Rental or Utilities Assistance – Requests for rental or utilities aid are granted on a one-time basis.
A private interview is required.
Christmas Gift Baskets – A generous basket of food for a holiday dinner is distributed to needy
families shortly before Christmas at Hanna Boys Center.
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FISH 2012 Annual Report
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3 day supplies of groceries fed 1,997 homes of 4,747 adults and 3,038 children.
2,395 private car rides were provided to medical appointments.
197 families received emergency rental assistance.
200 people received 2-way bus fare to medical or social service appointments.
55 families received emergency utility assistance.
150 families per week received clothing at the FISH Clothes Closet
470 families (1,531 individuals) received Holiday Baskets.
148 layettes were provided for new mothers and their babies.
382 homebound clients received grocery food deliveries.
1,966 families (8,112 individuals) received groceries at the FISH administered Federal
Food Surplus Giveaway.
3. Meals on Wheels of Sonoma (MOW).
P.O. Box 622
Sonoma, CA 95476
Hrs. Mon. – Fri. 8 am – 12 noon
Contact: Sue Holman, Susan Weeks, Directors
ph: 707-935-9141
Mission: To deliver nutritious hot meals to homebound people in the Sonoma Valley, operating in
the commercial kitchen at Trinity Episcopal Church, 275 E. Spain St., Sonoma.
Service Area: Madrone Road to Schellville
MOW is a 501©(3) which receives no government funding. MOW subsists on a modest charge to
clients, (if they can afford to pay; no one is turned away.) and donations. Physician or hospital
referral required. MOW has operated its meals program in the Sonoma Valley for over 40 years.
4. St. Francis Solano Catholic Church
469 3rd St. West (behind church)
Sonoma, CA 95476
Hrs. Mon.-Fri. 1pm – 2:30 pm
Co- presidents for St. Vincent de
Paul Society: Maureen Dutil &
Marie Therese Denning
ph: 707-996-6759
website: stfrancissolano.com
Service Area: Sonoma Valley from Kenwood to Schellville.
St. Francis provides a three day supply of groceries once a week to low income people, working
through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Clients arrive in person Mon-Fri between 1:00 pm – 2:30
pm. This program also gives food baskets out during Thanksgiving and financial assistance for rent,
utilities one time a year as funds allow. During the past fiscal year, which ended on 9-13-13, the
program served 3,402 people with food and gave out an additional $12,635 in financial assistance to
help some of these clients with rent, utilities and other needs.
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5. Sonoma Overnight Support (SOS)
aka The Haven 151 First St. West
(P.O. Box 748)
Sonoma, CA 95476
Hrs: Mon. – Fri. 9 am – 3 pm
ph: 707-939-6777
website: sonomaovernightsupport.org
Mission: To provide a safe, temporary shelter to anyone in need, where one can find nourishment,
daily structure, and individual guidance toward community outreach services.
Service Area: The Sonoma Valley
SOS oversees three independent, community-based programs: The Haven, Sonoma Brown
Baggers and the Community Drop-In Center.
The Haven is a four bedroom, home-like facility that can accommodate up to 12 people with a
warm, safe bed, access to 3 meals a day, laundry facilities and support and referral services for up to
120 days. It is available to men, women and families in need. In order to keep their bed each client
must meet with a case manager to create an individualized Action Plan, attend weekly meetings,
commit to staying clean and sober, follow the house rules, and show progress in meeting their goals.
Sonoma Brown Baggers delivers more than 10,000 burrito lunches to homeless men, women and
children every year. In cooperation with the interfaith community, volunteers also deliver over
3,700 sandwich lunches annually to various drop-off points in the valley. Finally, the Brown
Baggers run weekly soup kitchens on Wednesday lunch at the Grange, from 11:30 am – 1 pm, and
Friday evenings at La Luz Center, beginning at 4:30 pm and serving over 200 hot meals a month.
The Community Drop-In Center offers drop-in referral services for Sonoma Valley residents
regarding food, housing, health and financial assistance. Residents may eat, shower, do laundry, and
use the phone or the computer without charge.
SOS is affiliated with Catholic Charities, La Luz, COTS, Interfaith Shelter Network, the Salvation
Army, the Redwood Empire Food Bank, and Alcoholics Anonymous.
6. St. Leo the Great Catholic Church
601 W. Aqua Caliente Rd.
Sonoma, CA 95476
Hrs. Call Tues.-Fri. 9 am – 11 am (for food)
Contact: church office
ph: 707-996-8422
website: stleoschurch.org
Service Area: The Sonoma Valley north of Verano Av.
Persons in need who live within St. Leo’s parish boundaries (see Service Area above) can call the
church Tues-Fri one time a month to request a box with 3-5 days of food items provided through the
St. Vincent de Paul Society. Pick ups are from 12 to 12:30. Fresh fruits and vegetables from REFB
are available every Tuesday to anyone who comes between 10:30 and 11:30 am. No call required.
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Currently, about 150 families use this service each week. St. Leo’s also hosts the Brown Baggers
(BB) group which prepares burritos two times a week (Mon. and Thurs.) to distribute to homeless
people. BB also provides a hot lunch at the Grange every Wednesday with different churches taking
a week to prepare food, and a soup supper at La Luz every Friday (See Sonoma Overnight Support
section for details).
7. La Luz Center
17560 Gregor St.
Sonoma, CA 95476
Hrs. Mon. - Thurs. 9 am – 5 pm
Fri. 9 am – 4 pm
ph: 707-938-5131
website: laluzcenter.org
Mission: To empower our community through education, leadership and self- advocacy.
Service Area: The Sonoma Valley
La Luz is a Family Resource Center which provides a wide range of services to individuals and
families. Through its many partnerships with county and local agencies La Luz offers English
language classes, GED and citizenship preparation, computer training, parenting classes, nutrition
education, family budgeting, leadership programs, access to medical and mental health services, and
support for legal issues. The Brown Bag program provides sack lunches twice a week at La Luz and
partners with them to run the Brown Bag Café, which provides a hot soup meal at La Luz every
Friday from 4:30 pm until 6:00 pm for approximately 50-70 people.
Catholic Charities (CC) and the REFB bring fresh produce to La Luz every Friday which is
available from 9:30 am – 10:30 am. On the last Tuesday of every month CC also provides nonperishable food items so La Luz can help families in need. One bag of food per person is available
each week. REFB provides food on the third Wednesday of every month from 11:00 am to 12 noon
for children 5 years old who are no longer in WIC, for seniors 60 and up and for diabetics. Clients
must bring their own bag for all food pickups. Application required. FISH also helps La Luz with
donations of food and with rental assistance.
In 2014 La Luz will assist persons with questions regarding California Care and the new health
plans, and will continue providing assistance for those applying for CalFresh (formerly Food
Stamps) and/or MediCal enrollments.
8. Vintage House
264 First Street East
Sonoma, CA 95476
Hrs. Mon. - Fri 9 am – 4 pm
ph: 707-996-0311
website: vintagehouse.org
Mission: Vintage House is dedicated to providing the Sonoma Valley with activities and services
for its senior population that enhance dignity, promote well-being and independence, and encourage
participation in community life.
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Service Area: The Sonoma Valley
Vintage House provides a number of programs and services for seniors (60 and older) in the
Sonoma Valley. The Council on Aging (CoA) operates an Adult Social Day Care program for frail
and elderly seniors at Vintage House three days a week (Tues., Thurs. and Fri. from 9:30 am until 2
pm). This includes a hot meal for participants provided by the CoA through Meals on Wheels of
Santa Rosa. Other seniors can join in on the meal if they make a reservation in advance (ph: 9961414). On the first and third Wednesdays at Vintage House the REFB provides a 3-5 day supply of
food between 9:00 am and 9:45 am. An application is required. Vintage House offers free holiday
dinners to seniors on Thanksgiving and Christmas by reservation only. On the 1st and 3rd Mondays
of each month a representative from the County’s Human Services Department comes to Vintage
House to assist seniors in applying for CalFresh benefits.
9. The Boys and Girls Club
100 W. Verano Ave.
Sonoma, CA 95476
Hrs: M-F- from school dismissal until 6 pm.
on school campuses and until 7 pm
at the Maxwell location.
Contact: Kirsten Schepp
ph: 707-938-8544
email: kschepp@bgcsonoma.org
Mission: To provide positive opportunities for youth to learn and succeed.
Service Area: The Sonoma Valley
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley (BGCSV) is an organization of five sites in Sonoma and
Glen Ellen, on four school campuses and the Maxwell Clubhouse. School campus locations are
Dunbar Elementary, Flowery Elementary, Sassarini Elementary, and Altimira Middle School. The
main office is housed in the Maxwell Clubhouse at 100 West Verano Ave. BGCSV offers a variety
of programs from educational support, leadership training, to healthy lifestyle choices. The Maxwell
Clubhouse is open on non-holiday, non-school days and all summer from 7 am to 7 pm.
REFB provides a supper between 3 and 3:30 pm during the school year and a breakfast and hot
lunch during the summer. Supper meals are only open to Club members, but summer meals are
open to the public. BGCSV serves children ages 6-18, but offers no preschool care. Nor does it
provide before school care.
The Backpack Program supplies free groceries from REFB each Friday to families with children
enrolled in a BGCSV program. Currently 48 families receive groceries. Interested parties should
contact the site director.
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10. Sonoma Valley Teen Services (SVTS)
17440 Sonoma Hwy
Sonoma, CA 95476
Hrs: Mon. – Fri. 3:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Contact: Cristin Lawrence
ph: 707-939-1452
email: cristin.svts@gmail.com
Mission: Empowering Sonoma Valley youth to become happy, healthy contributing members of the
community. Sonoma Valley Teen Services partners with schools, service agencies and local
businesses to provide employment and career resources to Sonoma Valley Teens.
Service Area: The Sonoma Valley
SVTS operates a variety of services to fulfill its mission. It operates the No Name Café at Sonoma
Valley High School, which serves affordable snack foods and fruit smoothies at break, lunch, after
school and at fall-winter sports events. The Brown Bag program provides free lunches at the Teen
Center on the second and fourth week of the month. Free snacks and drinks are always available at
the Center Mon. – Fri. from 3:30 – 7:30 pm. The Harvest of the Month Program, on Wednesdays
from 5:00 – 6:30 pm at the Teen Center, provides a cooking class using fresh fruits and veggies
harvested from local gardens and a hot meal for the participants. REFB provides daily free hot
lunches at the Teen Center during the summer months.
11. Sonoma Unified School District
Food Services
17850 Railroad Avenue
Sonoma, CA 95476
Hrs. 7:30 am – 3:30 pm
Contact: Cody Williams, Program Mgr.
ph: 707-935-4296
email: cwilliams@sonomavly.k12.ca.us
Service Area: The Sonoma Valley (Schellville to Kenwood)
The Sonoma Unified School District consists of five elementary schools, two middle schools and
one high school. Total school district student enrollment is 4300. Food service in the district is
governed under the district’s Wellness Policy. The Mission of the Wellness Policy is to foster the
overall health of the school district community by creating a variety of educational opportunities to
establish life long healthy eating habits and physical activity. One of its goals is to increase
participation in school nutrition programs so that no student goes hungry during the school day.
Each school offers a nutritious breakfast and lunch during the school day and snacks at mandated
after school programs. These meals are offered at a modest cost: K-5 breakfast is $1.25. Lunch is
$2.75. Junior high breakfast is $1.50 and lunch $3.25. High school breakfast is $1.50 and lunch
$3.75. Low income families can apply for free or reduced cost meals for their children who attend
district schools. Income requirements are based on total household income and the number of kids
at home. Information and applications are available at school cafeterias, at Cody’s office and on line
through the district’s website: www.svusdca.org /food services/free & reduced meals form.
Currently, the schools serve 1200 breakfast and 2100 lunches daily, Monday through Friday. There
are no food programs when school is not in session (weekends, holidays, two months during the
summer and during winter and spring break – about 180 days of the year.
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The district’s nutrition program also offers nutritional education through a variety of means. Each
school has its own garden where students learn about good nutrition and how to grow healthy
produce. The Harvest of the Month program educates students about seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Middle school students grow produce for their cafeterias. High school students participate in
running the No Name Café on campus, which is operated by the Valley of the Moon Teen Center.
12. WIC Program (Women, Infants and Children)
810 Grove St.
Sonoma, CA 95476
ph: 707-565-6590
website: sonoma-county.org/wic
Sonoma Valley office is open Mon. Tues. 8 am – 4:30 pm (closed 12-12:30)
By appointment only: call 565-6590 or 1-800-816-3663 for an appointment.
Service Area: Sonoma County.
WIC is a supplemental nutrition program for pregnant women and new mothers, their infants and
children up to age 5. Services provided by the program include monthly checks (vouchers) to
purchase nutritious foods, nutritional education and breastfeeding support for income eligible
families. An on site enrollment appointment is required to verify eligibility. Applicants need to
bring a personal I.D., proof of income and residency in Sonoma County, and any children who are
to be enrolled. The WIC staff is fully bi-lingual. For more information on the enrollment process,
call the number above or visit the WIC website (see above.) LaLuz also offers information about the
WIC program and assistance in enrolling.
Other Sources of Information on Food Distribution:
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Redwood Empire Food Bank - 523-7900
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Cal-Fresh (Formerly Food Stamps) through Sonoma Co. Human Resources
707-565-2715; recorded information 1-877-699-6868
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Council on Aging – Senior Programs 935-0850
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Catholic Charities – 528-8712
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211 – Phone directory (call 211) and website (211wc.org) for assistance locating food and
other aid programs in Sonoma Co. This service is available 24 hrs a day and 7 days a week.
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