Holiday food drive guide
In Sonoma County, an estimated 200,000 people will go hungry this holiday season – and beyond – without our help. In 2014, an estimated 35 million meals were missed by our fellow residents.
Let’s make a difference this holiday season by providing non-perishable food to those in the most need in our community.
Food drives are taking place throughout our community, to benefit those most in need in Sonoma Valley, the county, and victims of the recent Valley Fire.
This list, provided by the folks at Redwood Empire Food Bank (REFB), our county’s largest distributor of food for those in need, represents the most high need non-perishable food items needed year round, including this holiday season:
- Canned tuna and meats
- Peanut butter
- Beans & rice
- Pasta & sauce
- Low-sodium soups & stews
- No sugar added canned fruits
- Low-sodium canned vegetables
Keep your eyes peeled for bulk sales at your grocer (I’m looking at you Costco members!) and scour your own cabinets for items that you have a feeling you might not get around to using – donate them.
From now until November 20, you can donate to Sonoma Raceway’s food drive by dropping off non-perishable items at Sonoma Raceway, Angelo’s Wine Country Deli, Sonoma Market and Glen Ellen Market, 76 Gas Stations (23003 Arnold Dr. & 19080 Arnold Dr.) and Carneros Deli. All food is donated to FISH, to help folks locally, and REFB to help Valley Fire victims. Call 800-870-7223 to learn more.
Whole Foods (year round) and Sonoma Roots (651 1st St. W., Sonoma, 996-4656; ends Dec. 15) both have food drives to support REFB.
Finally, you can donate non-perishable food and grocery gift cards to FISH (call 996-0111). The long-standing Sonoma-based non-profit provides groceries weekly for those in need from Schellville to Glen Ellen.
Donation tip: think of what you will feed your own family when you think about what to donate: consider buying organic, non-GMO, and also donating gluten free food. All Sonoma County residents deserve great, healthy meals – year round.
