F.I.S.H. (Friends in Sonoma Helping) is gearing up to distribute 500 food boxes to help sustain needy residents of Sonoma Valley through the holiday season — and needs your help.
Each box contains canned and packaged staples, fresh produce, eggs and a gift card redeemable at one of our local markets. While F.I.S.H. organizes and distributes the food, the contents come from many generous donors in our community.
“Most welcome are canned fruits and vegetables, packaged dry goods, soups and sauces,” suggest Food Basket co-chairs, Sandy Drew and Bette Holloway.
Where can donors contribute food? Brightly decorated F.I.S.H. donation barrels appear around the Valley at local businesses and most Sonoma Valley public schools. On weekends you will see neighbors ringing bells for F.I.S.H. at Sonoma’s busy shopping centers.
Cash donations help with the purchase of fresh produce, eggs and gift cards.
Now in its 44th year, the Holiday Food program is a collaborative effort involving many volunteers plus Sonoma Valley businesses and nonprofit organizations. Already the Sonoma Valley Cub and Boy Scouts and Sonoma Raceway have kicked off the food drive.
Hanna Boys Center hosts the packing and distribution of the 500 food boxes which will take place on December 19, Catholic Charities of Santa Rosa provides a driver and van to help transport food from storage to Hanna Boys Center and Redwood Empire Food Bank supplies fresh eggs.
“Their outreach has met one-third of our need,” report the co-chairs. “We count on the generosity of our community to help us bring in the rest of the donations needed.”
The holiday season is not the only time F.I.S.H. helps our neighbors in need. Throughout the year F.I.S.H. provides food, clothing, transportation and emergency rental and utility services. This year F.I.S.H. has handled over 25,000 requests for assistance. F.I.S.H. is an all volunteer organization with no paid staff and no fees are charged for any F.I.S.H. services.
For more information about making a food donation or to volunteer for packing and distributing food boxes contact F.I.S.H. at 707-996-0111. Cash donations can be mailed to F.I.S.H. at P.O. Box 507, Sonoma or via the FISH website www.friendsinsonomahelping.org, CA 95476.
All donations make a difference!
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