Community Corner
Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Santa Rosa Food, Fund Drive Underway
Organizers say the number of people who need fresh food, groceries and meals in Sonoma County may double; here's how you can help.
SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The city of Santa Rosa and the Redwood Empire Food Bank launched a weeklong virtual fundraiser and a drive-thru food collection to meet the city's growing need for food during the coronavirus — COVID-19 — pandemic. The city hopes to raise $25,000 during its Neighbors Helping Neighbors Virtual Fund Drive that began Thursday and runs through April 30.
Donations can be made at SRCity.org/FoodDrive. For every dollar donated, the Redwood Empire Food Bank will distribute $4 of healthy food. The Redwood Empire Food Bank hopes to raise $100,000 throughout Sonoma County.
The drive-thru, non-perishable food donation is 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, April 30 in the parking lot of City Hall, 100 Santa Rosa Ave. People should enter the parking lot from D Street.
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The most needed items are tuna and canned meat, peanut butter, canned soups and stews, rice, dry beans, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables and protein bars. Glass containers will not be accepted.
Participants should wear their face covering and remain in their vehicle during the food drop-off, and should refrain from participating in the drive-thru donation if they or anyone in their household have been ill or had a fever within the last 72 hours.
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"Currently, the Food Bank is packing more than 5,000 boxes of food a day with help from the National Guard and volunteers, and they need more food and funds to sustain that operation," Santa Rosa Mayor Tom Schwedhelm said.
"From past experience, we know how Santa Rosans come together to help each other in an emergency, and now we need to pull together once again," Schwedhelm said.
"When you donate to the Redwood Empire Food Bank, your money helps us purchase food, pay our dedicated staff, fuel our trucks, keep our refrigerators running and accomplish anything in between," CEO David Good said.
The Redwood Empire Food Bank projects the number of people who need fresh food, groceries and meals in Sonoma County will double during the public health emergency to 164,000 children, seniors and adults.
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