Disaster & Food Insecurity Response

Sonoma Family Meal was launched in response to the 2017 Tubbs Fire. SFM founder Heather Irwin decided to start a simple prepared food program at Franchettis’ restaurant to serve fresh meals to anyone in need. Partnering with John and Gesine Franchetti, Worth Our Weight, Vintner’s Inn and Resort, and Council on Aging, SFM used four commercial kitchens and served nearly 20,000 meals in four weeks. SFM worked with farmers, restaurants and chefs helping hundreds of survivors through the fragile early stages of recovery and into their final rehoming two years later. More details here.

  • SFM continued to serve flood survivors, first responders and evacuees of the Kincade Fire (2019). More than 200,000 people were evacuated from Sonoma County during this fast-moving wildfire. Sonoma Family Meal enlisted dozens of chefs and more than 700 volunteers to cook more than 8,000 meals for evacuees, first responders and food insecure Sonoma County residents. Working with local farmers and ranchers, we processed more than 2 tons of produce and meat for these nutritionally dense meals.

  • During the course of the pandemic, SFM has helped pay more than $1.3 million to our restaurant network and served more than 244,000 meals. Our COVID-19 model supported restaurants while helping to relieve food insecurity for the most vulnerable members of our community. It was a win-win for local businesses and food insecure seniors, immigrants, farm workers and families.

  • SFM is built for the long haul. At our new community kitchen, SFM’s Executive Chef Heather Ames and a team of committed volunteers prepare delicious meals for families experiencing food insecurity in our community. SFM partners with local community-based organizations to help facilitate the distributions.

  • SFM is committed to reducing food waste and supporting a healthy local food system. We partner with Farm to Pantry and Zero Waste Sonoma and receive donated perishables that would otherwise go to waste. These rescued ingredients are converted into nutritious meals for food-insecure individuals in our community.