illnesses in Sonoma County.
They also supply over 300,000 meals per year at no charge toqualified clients who are at risk of malnutrition. Food For Thought serviceseliminate food insecurity, reduce hospital visits and medical expenses, andimprove clients’ health and quality of life.
Food For Thought offers comprehensive nutritional servicesto over 850 people affected by HIV and other serious illnesses in SonomaCounty. Their services are confidential and provided at no cost to clients in awelcoming and beautiful environment.
All clients are welcome to receive weekly groceries,vitamins and dietary supplements, and nutritional counseling. Groceries aredelivered to clients who are homebound due to illness or lack of transportation.Clients who are unable to prepare food for themselves may receive frozen mealsby applying through their case manager or doctor.
Clients are also invited to participate in FFT’s nutrition education and garden programs and to join other clients for a hot lunch three times a week at their Forestville location.
Volunteers are always needed and greatly appreciated!
To get started, please complete the volunteerregistration form. You will be contacted soon after you submit your form.If you have any questions, please email Helen Myers at
Volunteer Opportunities include:
FOOD BANK CLERKS
Clerks staff the food bank itself in downtown Forestville. Duties include:greeting clients, taking their orders, and filling grocery bags both forwalk-in clients and for those who are homebound. Clerks also stock shelves,receive deliveries, break down bulk items, wash windows, sweep floors and pitchin for any task at hand.
FOOD DRIVE VOLUNTEERS
This is a great opportunity for those who work during the week but want to helponce a month for a few hours! Three times a month, on Saturdays, volunteersconduct food drives outside the doors of local markets. Food drive volunteersoffer flyers to shoppers as they enter the door, asking them to buy extra itemswhile they shop and then receive the donations in bins as the shoppers exit.View upcoming food drive dates.
PICK-UP AND DELIVERY DRIVERS
Deliver groceries to clients who are homebound due to illness or lack oftransportation. Pick up groceries in Forestville in your own car. We providemaps and directions. Usually four to eight stops on a route. Volunteers reportan average of two hours of time per route.
GARDENERS
Under the direction of master gardeners, volunteers work to help maintain andharvest our organic vegetable, herb and flower gardens and orchard. The gardenvolunteers generally enjoy a lunch break together, often with fresh greens fromthe garden. A fine opportunity to learn more about organic gardening as well astouching the earth and connecting with nature.
LOVING SPOONFUL
Volunteers in the Loving Spoonful Program assist our chef to prep, prepare, andpackage healthy and delicious soups, salads, and other items for our clients.Volunteers with all levels of cooking skills are welcome to join our kitchencrew — and no experience is necessary! Shifts take place at the kitchen atShone Farm in Santa Rosa every Monday from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm and 1:00 – 4:00 pm.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Volunteers for a wide range of jobs are needed for all our special fundraisingevents: ticket takers, registration folk, guides and hosts, food and beverageassistants, drivers, phone solicitors, envelope stuffers, set up, parking,people with strong backs and people with gentle hands, and the (alwaysimportant) clean-up crew.
Location:
6550 Railroad Avenue
PO Box 1608
Forestville, CA 95436
(707) 887-1647
(Originally aired: December 24, 2019)
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