Although it seems like November is typically the season of gratitude, April is a great time to pause to give thanks to our volunteers for sustaining FISH’s ability to help our Sonoma Valley neighbors in need. It takes all 160 volunteers for FISH to fulfill our mission – and each volunteer is critical to the organization. Thank you to each FISH volunteer – well done!

For this newsletter I am only able to focus on a few of our fantastic volunteers. I hope that you enjoy learning more about some of the individuals who illustrate the skills and dedication of the many volunteers working behind the scenes to accomplish our important work.

Enjoy the spring sunshine,

Sandy

PS - You may note that our newsletters now come from our info@fishsonoma.org email. This change was made to comply with guidelines to reduce potential issues with spam and hacking. It's still us!

Peggy joined FISH in 2015 as a Dispatcher and soon expanded her volunteer work to include driving. Currently she has added Ride Finder and Transportation Coordinator to her FISH commitments.  Peggy has always gone the extra mile for those who call and is always caring about people… arranging for a reclining chair to be delivered to a caller, or finding a Driver to deliver food to a caller who was just released from the hospital. As a member of the Steering Committee, Peggy’s ability to provide novel thinking, new ideas, and pertinent questions is highly valued and often results in improved FISH services. 

Carol has been a FISH volunteer for 38 years!  In 1986 she began by packing and delivering food.  Later Carol transitioned to transportation where, for the past two decades, she has been a Ride Finder.  Ride Finders receive all ride requests from those who call in that week. Often Carol has over 20 rides to fill which she does by calling each volunteer FISH Driver for availability. Carol also provides computer support by keeping accurate lists of both volunteer Drivers and those who call for rides. Recently Carol thought she would retire from FISH after celebrating her 90th birthday, but, lucky for FISH, she has continued as a faithful FISH volunteer.

Shirley began working in the FISH Clothing Room in 2005. In no time she became Jeanne’s assistant and took over for Jeanne when she retired.  During the 2017 fires, Shirley and her sister helped establish a Clothing Room Annex at Sonoma United Methodist Church.  During these critical days Shirley organized mountains of donated items for wildfire victims. In 2020 Shirley found a source for donations of new clothing with tags still on, every piece with a character from the beloved Peanuts comic strip on them. Shirley organized two parking lot giveaways of these items during COVID. Shirley has also overseen an increase of visitors to the Clothing Room to more than 2,500 each year.

Arlene began as a Dispatcher and Food Room Dispenser in 2008 and in the past five years has assumed many leadership roles for FISH. Arlene coordinates the annual Bell Ringing project as well as recording and acknowledging all financial donations to FISH. After becoming a member of the FISH Governing Board and during the pandemic, Arlene worked to build up the FISH organizational chart and began recruiting to fill key positions. Arlene has recruited two volunteer facilitators, a volunteer coordinator, a donations coordinator, a financial secretary for assistance programs, a layette coordinator, a lead dispenser, and a technology support person! She has also been instrumental in running the pantry during the absence of a Food Room coordinator. Arlene has provided leadership that has strengthened the organization and allowed FISH to maintain its all-volunteer status

Dee initially joined FISH as a Driver but soon found herself as the key organizer for our Holiday Food Baskets. Dee is the liaison to Hanna Boys Center (our basket distribution partners), purchases the produce and cheese, and oversees packing, distribution, and clean-up. Dee has been so good at organizing that recently she has become our Coordinator of Seasonal Programs that also includes holiday Bell Ringing, the November Scouting For Food, and the May Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Dee consistently invites people into her home for planning session around her dining room table. Gracious and generous with her time and her smile, Dee bring a sense of joy and delight to all her volunteer work.

Don has been a driver for FISH since the 1980’s and loves driving people to medical appointments.  This past year Don took a fall that landed him in the hospital and in need of surgery.  At 91 years old, we thought Don would need to retire from his FISH volunteer work.  Don told a friend visiting him in the hospital that he really, really wanted to return to his FISH driving.  Although it took some time because Don had to take both driver’s tests after his surgery, Don is back to his FISH volunteer driving.  What a recovery!

Nadine has been a FISH volunteer in the Clothing Room and a HOPE food deliverer since 2009. Trained as a chemical engineer, Nadine immersed herself in classes to become proficient in QuickBooks and all things related to being our Treasurer. Nadine presents an annual draft budget, serves on the Finance Committee, organizes the filing of our 990, balances the checking account, and pays the bills on time. She also serves on the Governing Board. Nadine spends hours to keep FISH fiscally sound and legally compliant. Nadine juggles the Treasurer’s job, delivering food, and assisting in the Clothing Room, and does it skillfully.

Karen joined FISH in 2015 as a Dispatcher and soon added Utility Assistance Coordinator to her duties. Although this job has always been demanding, the 2017 fires, the pandemic, and now the sharp increases in PG&E rates have significantly increased the requests for utility assistance at FISH.  With translation assistance from Mireya, Karen manages to respond to all utility requests – sometimes even when she is on vacation! In responding to calls for assistance Karen must gather the appropriate information from each caller, verify through the utility, and, if appropriate, arrange for payment – filling 241 requests in 2023. Karen has been able to accommodate a huge increase in requests with aplomb and a ready smile.

Anne, a retired public health nurse, joined FISH in 2018 and revitalized a beleaguered medical equipment program.  Anne receives donated medical equipment, checks items for safety, then cleans, sanitizes, and stores them. When short on equipment, Anne contacts a colleague in Petaluma to exchange surplus equipment for items needed at FISH. IN 2023, Anne successfully advocated for an expansion of our medical equipment storage space.  Anne does all of this so that FISH can provide medical equipment to those in the Valley who are in need. Of all FISH services, medical equipment is the program that has grown most significantly over the past three years.  In 2021 FISH provided 145 families with medical equipment and in 2023 that number grew to 276!

Laurie has been volunteering with FISH since early 2020, maintaining our website and improving FISH communications. Laurie researched a new website platform for FISH and recommended it for adoption. She then built the new site to provide FISH with better functionality and an updated look. Laurie has also implemented new software to improve our newsletter, maintains FISH’s presence on social media, and polishes PowerPoint presentations. Laurie’s skills and comprehensive knowledge of FISH have continued to strengthen our communication with clients, volunteers, supporters, and the larger community.

Mary joined FISH in 2019 as both a food packer and as a local driver for medical appointments.  In addition, Mary spends every Friday afternoon in the Food Room entering the client data from the previous week into the database.  While in the Food Room, Mary also cleans out the refrigerator, composting any spent items and recycling containers…tasks that are not fun but are essential. She also organizes the training of all packers. From working with callers who need medical rides, volunteer packing food, the database, and refrigerated food that has exceeded its life span, Mary is an incredibly versatile and dedicated volunteer.

Eric & Peter are a dynamic duo who come to FISH Clothing Room every Monday morning to take any unusable clothing donations to the Petaluma Goodwill.  Their FISH work is a component of Peter’s “adaptive” program. Peter uses a wheelchair and is also nonverbal.  Eric and Peter work together to load the van with bags of packed clothing and drive them to Petaluma.  Peter enjoys listening to music on their drive to Petaluma.

A big thank you to ALL of our wonderful FISH volunteers!