How Can You Help this Holiday Season?

Daisy Girl Scout Troop 10225 of Rohnert Park started off this holiday season right by collecting food and money for the less fortunate. Along with selling nuts and candy, these outgoing scouts managed to collect over 150 pounds of food that was taken to the Redwood Empire Food Bank. That food translates to over 120 people being fed and after you add in the money donations they collected, that figure increased to over 200 people helped.

After donating food they took a tour of the facility in Santa Rosa to learn more about how the food bank helps those in need.

Many people are in unenviable positions this year. In Sonoma County, 1 in every 6 people struggle with hunger. That includes thousands of children and seniors along with adults. There are also those that need warm coats, have no presents to give children for Christmas, and in general are much less fortunate.

During the holiday season many people in our community do what they can to give back to those who need it. If you are looking to lend a hand, spare a coat, donate some food, or know people who want to, please check out some of these great ways we can all work together to make our community stronger:

Ways to Help

• The Redwood Empire Food Bank is the largest food bank in Sonoma County and feeds 78,000 people per month within the county. You can help in many ways by promoting a Hunger Course, starting a food pantry or simply donating food directly. You can learn more on their website.
• One Warm Coat is a group the local Girl Scouts, schools, and other service groups work with to provide a warm coat to someone in need. Last year over 7,000 coats were collected locally. Visit them here for more information on helping.
• For those who want to lend a hand in person you can always check with the local St. Vincent de Paul group. They offer food service to those in need and can always use help in their dining room in Santa Rosa. Click here to get to their website.
• The Volunteer Center of Sonoma County always has many ways for people to help. This year they have a Secret Santa opportunity that anyone or a business can help with (like the Patch). Check out their website for more information.
• The Rohnert Park Safety Officers Association will be doing their annual Santa Sleigh this year to collect toys for those in need and spread some Christmas cheer. We will post a full listing of the scheduled stops for the sleigh drive in the next week.

Helping others in the community doesn't take much and the results are often more than what people expect. Nine cute little 6-year-olds are helping feed 200 people over Thanksgiving in our county, what can you do to help?

Know of any other ways to help the community? Please let us know in the comments!

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