Maria points out how to get assistance by using our dispatch line and our website.

Dear Friends of FISH,

As I reflect on 2025, I am struck by its familiar echoes of the 2017 fires and the 2020 pandemic—times when the needs of our neighbors were profound and the challenges unmistakable. This year, once again, many families in our community have experienced hardship and uncertainty. Our ability to respond has been made possible only through the extraordinary generosity of our community and the steadfast, compassionate commitment of our volunteers. Together, we have provided vital support to those who needed it most.

The accomplishments you will read about are a direct reflection of the tireless efforts of our volunteers, whose dedication and empathy are truly the heartbeat of FISH. We are equally grateful to our community supporters, whose financial contributions and shared resources demonstrate deep trust in the partnership that sustains and strengthens our work.

As we look back, we celebrate the essential needs met and the lives touched. As we look ahead to 2026, we do so with clear eyes toward the continuing challenges before us—and with hopeful anticipation. Amid these challenges, we will also mark a significant milestone: the 55th anniversary of Friends In Sonoma Helping. Celebrating Service will be the theme of our anniversary year. In that spirit, each newsletter will highlight one of the many services that have grown from FISH over the past 55 years, honoring not only our history but the broader network of service providers in Sonoma Valley.

With gratitude for all that has been accomplished, and with resolve for the work yet to come, I look ahead to 2026 thankful for your partnership and committed to continuing our shared mission of easing the suffering of our neighbors.

In friendship,

Sandy
Sandy Piotter, Executive Director

The year 2026 marks the 55th anniversary of the founding of Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH) as well as the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America.  These milestones warrant reflection on all of the many people who have sustained the vision of these two entities.  It takes continuing efforts by many people to maintain founding principles.

For all of these 55 years, FISH has maintained its founding ethos, neighbors helping neighbors in need.  Our Mission Statement is clear: “FISH lends a helping hand to our neighbors in need by providing critical safety net services.”

The Board of Directors thanks all of our volunteers, donors, leaders, and partners that have helped FISH over the decades remain true to our purpose.

Clockwise from top left: board members Tom Haeuser, Charlotte Ruffner, Joanne Brown, Nadine Yenni, Maria Lounibos, and Phyllis Anderson.

Our 2025 statistics reveal growing numbers of Sonoma Valley residents served, highlighting the need for the services FISH provides free of charge to the community. All FISH service requests begin either through our website or a phone call to our weekday Dispatch phone line. Our dispatch volunteers are an essential point of first contact, handling thousands of phone inquiries annually.  We now have Spanish-speaking dispatchers available on every shift, helping to ensure that all callers receive prompt assistance. 

Volunteers Bill and the crew from Becoming Independent at work in our Food Pantry.

GROCERY ASSISTANCE

In 2025, almost 2,000 Sonoma Valley households picked up groceries  from our Food Pantry. These households include a total of 4,491 adults and 1,959 children. Each household receives enough food for several days, based on family size. Our delivery program also showed continued growth, with FISH volunteers making 542 deliveries of groceries to homebound residents.

Eva and Sherry provide help in English or Spanish with applications for rent and utility assistance.

RENT AND UTILITIES ASSISTANCE

The number of local households receiving emergency assistance with rent has remained steady, while the households receiving help with utility bills continues to grow. In 2025, we were able to distribute more than $300,000 in assistance through these programs. FISH now has an office at 18360 Sonoma Highway (the Sonoma Immigrant Services building), where we provide in-person help four mornings each week with rent or utility assistance applications as well as general questions.

Sandy speaking at a garden party to celebrate our volunteer Drivers.

MEDICAL APPOINTMENT RIDES and MEDICAL EQUIPMENT LOANS

As Sonoma Valley's population ages, our fastest growing programs include Medical Rides and Medical Equipment Loans. Almost 1,200 round trip medical rides were provided this year, with more than half traveling to out-of-town appointments, and over 300 for local residents receiving dialysis. In 2025, FISH also provided gasoline assistance for those driving to out-of-town doctor visits and other essential needs. A new high of 421 medical equipment loans were provided, and a new Dental Assistance program provided help for critical dental care to 21 seniors in need.

CLOTHING AND HOUSEWARES

It was another busy year at the FISH Clothing Room, with Valley residents making 3,525 visits to select clothing and households goods, all at no charge. To ensure that those in need can find items in good condition, our volunteers sorted through over 30,000 pounds of donated items, separating out and organizing the usable items for the Clothing Room.

Our Clothing Closet volunteers organizing donations.  

Serving up scoops to fellow volunteers at the 2025 FISH Volunteer Ice Cream Social.

In 2025, a total of 29 volunteers joined our ranks, enriching our organization with their energy, talent, and heart. Their contributions have helped ensure stability and enable growth of our services to meet needs. FISH now has 175 dedicated and compassionate volunteers! Meet the FISH "Class of 2025":

DRIVERS:

Celeste De Tessan

Julian Elorduy

Fred Fegan

Julie Ford

Maxine Gordon

Jane Hinchman

Malka Johansson

Bob Kweller*

Richard Phillips

Barry Tanis

 

DISPATCHERS:

Moira Burke

Erica Hernandez

Yolanda Hernandez

Richard Weiss

 

RENT:

Sheridan Richards

FOOD ROOM:

Kathy & Mike Ah San 

Stacey Castor

Marci Husebye

Christopher Noll

Rand Yazzolino

Robert Small

Meg Sokoloski*

 

CLOTHING ROOM:

Beth Bierman

Kimberly Martinez

Beatrice McIntosh

Terry Rowlands

Jen Ryan

 

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT:

Jody Leeds

 

 

* Returning volunteer     

Each year, we have several long-time volunteers who "retire" from FISH with our enduring gratitude (look for some of their stories in future newsletters!) We are thankful for all our volunteers who strengthen our Sonoma Valley community by service with kindness.  If you know someone who may want to join the FISH team, details are on our Volunteer page. Currently, we are especially in need of Dispatchers  who fluent in Spanish; Drivers who can speak some Spanish; and a Volunteer who would enjoy working with a team from Becoming Independent to assemble produce bags once a month. 

Excludes investment income.

FISH is truly a "community based organization", funded by the generosity of individuals who believe in caring for their neighbors close to home. In 2025, there were 858 individuals who supported FISH through charitable contributions totaling $424,630, representing 84% of our total revenue of $503,003. While total revenue in 2024 was higher at $611,209, more than $122,000 of that amount came from bequests. In contrast, FISH received no bequests in 2025, meaning that grassroots giving alone surpassed the prior year’s non-bequest support.

Expenses for 2025 totaled $644,837.  Thanks to our volunteer workforce, less than 5% of expenses were for administrative costs, with more than 95% going to direct services. Reserve funds were used to fill the gap between revenues and expenses.

These figures do not reflect the tremendous value of in-kind donations received throughout the year, including food, clothing, medical equipment, and other items. Our "pantry partners" include a number of local farms, businesses, and neighborhood groups who help keep our shelves well-stocked, along with annual food drives by our local scouts and our postal carriers. 2025 was a banner year for food donations, further strengthening our ability to meet essential needs across Sonoma Valley.

Paul's Produce has been a strong supporter of FISH for years, delivering donations of beautiful veggies every Monday. We wish Paul the very best in retirement and look forward to working with Cody as he takes the reins at this valued community partner.

With over a half century of history, FISH might be seen as a “legacy” organization in Sonoma Valley – and yet, we are continually evolving and adapting to change.

Our annual Holiday Food Basket program is a good example. You may remember when it was known as the Christmas Food Basket program and was designed to provide a “traditional Christmas dinner”. In the 1970s, the focus was on collecting canned goods from churches, schools, businesses, and community organizations.

Celery, potatoes, carrots, and either a frozen turkey or canned ham were added just before delivery. As applications increased, it eventually became impractical to transport and manage 200+ frozen turkeys. At that point, a modest gift card replaced the turkey, allowing families to choose their preferred protein.

Over the years, as the demographics of Sonoma Valley shifted, what was once a “traditional” Christmas meal was no longer universally shared. At the same time, awareness grew around the importance of fresh, healthy food. For the past three years, FISH has fully transitioned away from canned goods for the holiday baskets and now provides a box of fresh produce, cheese, and a $50 gift card—giving families the dignity of choice for their holiday meals. Participant feedback reflects strong appreciation for these changes, and in 2025 our community generosity through fundraisers such as “Pennies for Produce” and “Bell Ringing” at local markets resulted in 680 Holiday Food Baskets distributed to local families.

On an ongoing basis, we assess the needs of our local residents, our operations, and our capacity, so that we can better serve the community. Changes can take the form of new collaborations, such as our Senior Dental Assistance pilot with Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, or new program features, such as including cell phone and internet assistance within our Utility program. Some changes are driven by the observations of our volunteers, such as the challenges that applicants for our rent and utilities program were having with transmitting the required documents, which has led us to offer in-person assistance with applications in English and Spanish. Other changes can be temporary adaptations to critical needs, such as responding to SNAP food benefit delays and seasonal job losses by expanding our Food Pantry hours from four to five days each week.

As the local saying goes, in Sonoma Valley “the roots run deep”.  As FISH enters its 55th year, changes will continue, but we remain rooted in caring neighbors helping neighbors.