This Week: Donate to the Redwood Empire Food Bank While Grocery Shopping

By Bay City News Service

The Redwood Empire Food Bank has launched its annual Winter Food and Funds Drive.

The drive that helps the one-in-six Sonoma County residents struggling with hunger ends Jan. 31.

The REFB provides food assistance to 78,000 children, adults and seniors in the county each month, REFB's Development Officer Billy Bartz said.

"We rely on our community to donate critical food, money and volunteer time to help our friends and neighbors in need -- both during the holidays and throughout the year," Bartz said. 

The REFB's orange food donation barrels are found at Safeway, Walgreens, Whole Foods, Oliver's Market, G&G Supermarkets and Grocery Outlet stores in Santa Rosa.

This month the REFB will distribute 72,000 "Fill'er Up Bags" for food that will be distributed by The Press Democrat, Argus Courier and Friedman's Home Improvement stores in Sonoma and Santa Rosa.

The REFB accepts financial donations online at www.refb.org, by phone or check. Every dollar donated provides two meals for someone in need, REFB spokeswoman Amy Richard said.

County residents also can host a food and funds drive or volunteer to pack, sort, deliver and distribute more than 13.5 million pounds of food annually. 

Community events to raise money or food donations include a  "Will Run For Food" Turkey Trot and Tot Trot at 8:45 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 28 at the Montecito Health and Racquet Club, 2777 4th St. in Santa Rosa. 

Participants are asked to bring a non-perishable food item or make a monetary donation. 

Radio station Mix 104.9 will hold its annual Chris-Mix fundraiser on Dec. 12 at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts. Tickets are available through the REFB's website. 

Rudolph Music's second annual benefit concert is scheduled for Dec. 15 at the Arlene Francis Center for Spirit, Art and Politics, 99 6th St. in Santa Rosa. The $10 tickets are available at the door with a donation of at least one can of food.

The concert features music by the bands Christmas, Third Rail and Voodoo Saints.

For more information about the events contact Dalton Wiley at (707) 523-7902 ext. 114.

Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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