Looking Back on a Busy Year 

The new year has been incredibly busy so far, with many requests for assistance with food, rent, and other FISH services. We're working hard to keep up with the demand. We're also in the process of compiling our 2023 Annual Report to our community. Look for the full report in February, but in the meantime, we wanted to use our January newsletter to share a few trends, highlights, and reasons for which we are thankful.

The use of FISH services grew significantly in 2023, most notably in our Food Pantry, where the number of households served increased by more than 50% from the previous year.  Over 1,500 Sonoma Valley households were served at the Pantry, with a total of 3,265 adults and 1,519 children. It is likely that the ending of pandemic-related benefits and services contributed to this increased need. At the same time, our Rent Assistance, Utilities Assistance, Medical Rides, and Medical Equipment loan programs all saw increases of 15%-20% in the number served.
A busy year indeed!

At FISH, we actively solicit grants and gratefully accept monetary donations from businesses and organizations.  But it is individual donations and bequests from community members that make up the vast majority of the revenue FISH receives (more than 70% in 2023). 

From large checks to the coins dropped in bell-ringer boxes and "Pennies for Produce" jars, many Sonoma Valley residents are among our supporters. With this help, our total donations for 2023 were up more than $75,000 over the previous year -- helping to fund the increased needs we are serving.

In-kind donations, including food, clothing, and medical equipment, also play a huge role in making FISH services possible.  Food donations come daily or weekly from our local markets, annually from food drives by local scouts and postal workers,  and many times in between from local farms, groups like the Neighborhood Food Project, and even local FFA and 4H auctions. We are also thankful for food from community partners like Redwood Empire Food Bank, Farm to Pantry, and Sonoma Food Runners. 

It takes a village - and we are thankful for this village.

Bell ringing is the biggest funding source for our Holiday Food Basket program, which brings cheer to 500 local families.  In 2023, our volunteer bell ringers raised over $29,000 in cash donations.

Our mission is simple as we provide safety net services to our community.  How we manage to do this entirely through volunteers – well, that is a bit more complicated and also rather amazing!

To help us meet the growing need for services, and to fill the shoes of long-time volunteers who "retired" from FISH, we gladly welcomed over two dozen new volunteers to our roster in 2023. We now have more than 155 individuals regularly dedicating their time and talents to FISH. From dispatch to driving, from providing client assistance to stocking shelves, as well as in all kinds of administrative and coordination roles. . . volunteers are truly the heart of FISH.

Victoria, volunteer coordinator and herself a volunteer, gives a tour of FISH Central to our newest group of "neighbors helping neighbors".

We wish all our Sonoma Valley neighbors a happy and healthy 2024. 

- Sandy