Celebrating Gratitude: A Special Thank You
to Our Supporters and Our Volunteers

Dear FISH Friends,

As the season of gratitude approaches, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible impact that each of you—our supporters and our volunteers—have made in the FISH organization. It is your dedication, generosity, and kindness that truly fuel our mission and help us serve those in need.

Thank You to Our Supporters

To all our donors, partners, and friends, your unwavering support allows FISH to reach further and help more individuals and families each year. Whether you give your time, resources, or words of encouragement, we are deeply thankful for your belief in our cause. You make it possible for us to offer vital services and programs that strengthen our community.

Gratitude for Our Volunteers

FISH volunteers are the heart of our organization. Your compassion, hard work, and willingness to go the extra mile inspire us all. From greeting visitors with a smile, to organizing events, to lending a hand wherever it is needed, your efforts do not go unnoticed. Every hour you spend and every action you take helps transform lives and bring hope to those who need it most. Thank you for being such a vital part of our team.

Looking Ahead Together

As we celebrate gratitude this month, let us remember that every act of kindness—big or small—creates ripples throughout our community. We are proud to have such devoted supporters and volunteers by our side. Together, we will continue to make a difference and brighten the future for everyone who call us or walks through our doors.

Get Involved

If you’re interested in joining our volunteer team or supporting FISH in new ways, we invite you to reach out and learn more via our website at fishsonoma.org.  There are many opportunities to get involved and we welcome your ideas and energy!

With heartfelt thanks,

Sandy

The month of November brought a sudden spike in food requests due to delays in SNAP benefits, leaving many local families unsure whether they would receive full, partial, or any assistance. In response, FISH quickly added Wednesdays as an extra pantry day, bringing our food pickup days to 5 per week to ensure that local families could continue to access the food they need. To maintain our level of service and meet the higher demand on an ongoing basis, an additional $10,000 was added to the 2026 food budget.

Holiday Food Basket Registrations Surge

The first days of registration for the 2025 Holiday Food Baskets were exceptionally busy. In just three two-hour sessions, FISH received more requests than the total number of baskets distributed in all of 2024. Thanks to rapid coordination and flexible teamwork, we were able to increase registration capacity to 730 families.
A special thank-you to those whose quick actions and generous spirit made this expansion possible, including:

Sherry Michael, for expanding the registration process on a moment’s notice,

Dee Weaver, for securing additional produce, and

Marty Herrick, for providing extra cheese and boxes to ensure all families are supported.

Volunteers as First Responders

Although we may not traditionally think of FISH volunteers as “First Responders,” the November food crisis highlighted how swiftly and compassionately our team mobilizes when our neighbors are in need. This responsiveness places us in spirit with the police, firefighters, EMTs, and other public servants whose dedication strengthens our community every day.

Scouting for Food was an outstanding community effort by the Sonoma Valley Scouts on Saturday, November 8. Thanks to their hard work, more than 6,000 pounds of nonperishable food now fills the FISH Food Room with essential nutrition staples.

Even more impressive than the sheer volume of food were the Scouts and parents who made it happen—collecting donations door to door, then staying to help sort, stack, and tackle all the heavy lifting. The teamwork and good spirits on display were truly inspiring.

All of us at FISH are deeply grateful for this generous and successful food drive. With the increased demand for food this year and the suspension of SNAP supplemental food assistance, Saturday’s collection will make a real and immediate difference for our neighbors in need.

Our heartfelt thanks go to the Scouts and their parents, and to Kathy Peterson, Miwok District Commissioner, and Brian Weiner for underwriting the cost of the printed materials, as well as to all the FISH volunteers for your dedication and community spirit.

FISH volunteer, Dee Weaver, is the Coordinator for Seasonal Food Drives and the liaison with the Scouts to get the collected food to FISH Central.  Once at FISH Central, Dee is instrumental in organizing and moving the tsunami of food. Inside the Food Room, FISH volunteers kept the momentum going—receiving, sorting, packing, and shelving every item. Food Room Coordinator Lauren Scott organized the operation, while her partner in the Food Room, Irene Pelmear, directed the efforts of 12 FISH volunteers. Irene also launched a “sorting party” of eight additional volunteers the following week to continue the work and ensure everything reached the shelves quickly.

The Scouting motto, “Be Prepared,” has taken on new meaning as the Scouts have helped FISH be prepared to provide food for families in need.

Help FISH Ring in the Holidays! Each year, FISH provides Holiday Food Baskets for hundreds of Sonoma Valley families and home-bound seniors. To help fund this program, volunteers ring bells at several of our local markets.

We're looking for a few more "Friends of FISH" to ring bells at Sonoma Market in December. Everything you'll need is provided for your one hour shift, just bring your warm, friendly Sonoma smile! Sign up here.

We have welcomed a number of new volunteers recently—many eager to help in the pantry—but our greatest need right now is for Drivers who can take clients to medical appointments. A unique set of circumstances has left us with fewer Drivers than usual, and we are hoping more volunteers will consider joining this meaningful service.

Drivers set their own schedules and choose where they are comfortable driving. Training is provided, and the reward of helping someone access essential medical care is deeply felt. Please consider stepping in if you are able.

In October, FISH volunteers gathered to enjoy an old-fashioned Ice Cream Social, thanks to Sweet, who kindly donated four delicious flavors. Volunteers had the chance to put faces to familiar voices—a simple joy that brought warm smiles and hugs.

Looking ahead, our next all-volunteer gathering will be the FISH 55th Anniversary Celebration in 2026, marking more than half a century of service to our Sonoma Valley neighbors.

Also in October, Beverly Koepplin completed the update of the FISH Dispatcher Handbook and chose to celebrate by hosting a delightful afternoon social. With a variety of foods, festive mocktails, and plenty of shared stories, the gathering was a true harvest-season treat.

Special thanks to:

Vicki Schnurpfeil, for welcoming everyone into her beautiful home,

Maria Campbell, for coordinating the event details, and

Beverly, whose wonderful recollections filled the afternoon with laughter.

Our Dispatchers continue to serve as a vital link for every person who calls FISH—offering help, hope, and compassionate connection from the first hello.