Food For Thought offers comprehensive nutritional services to individuals affected by HIV and other serious illnesses in Sonoma County. Our services are confidential and are provided at no cost to clients in a welcoming and beautiful environment. We also provide services in English and Spanish. More than one third of our clients receive delivery service because they are homebound due to ill health or lack of transportation.
Food Bank programs include weekly groceries and fresh produce; vitamins and nutritional supplements; delivery to the homebound; frozen meals for the very ill; nutritional counseling; organic gardening project; cooking and nutrition classes; recipes and nutritional updates, and occasional social gatherings.
The intake process is simple: Come to the food bank, fill out an application, and show us proof of residency and letter of diagnosis from your doctor. We’ll spend a few minutes telling you about our services and procedures, and you can go home with groceries the same day! If you are not able to travel to our facility in Forestville, call us and we will make other arrangements for you.
All clients are welcome to receive weekly groceries, vitamins and dietary supplements, nutritional counseling, and to participate in our nutrition education and garden programs. People who are homebound due to illness or lack of transportation can have groceries delivered to their door. People who are unable to prepare food for themselves may receive frozen meals by applying through their case manager or doctor.
Services provided :
- food delivery
- food pantry
- meals
- nutrition education
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (707) 887-1647ext to book your appointment.
Address :
6550 Railroad Ave,
Forestville, CA 95436.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: 01:00 PM - 08:00 PM EST
- Wed: 01:00 PM - 08:00 PM EST
- Thurs: 01:00 PM - 08:00 PM EST
- Fri: 01:00 PM - 08:00 PM EST
- Sat: 01:00 PM - 08:00 PM EST
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Sonoma
Appointments
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7.
For the full set of services, you can call (707) 887-1647ext to book your appointment. Staff can also answer any questions you may have.
Food Pantry in Near By City
- Albany
- American Canyon
- Benicia
- Berkeley
- Boyes Hot Springs
- Calistoga
- Corte Madera
- Cotati
- El Cerrito
- El Sobrante
- Fairfax
- Fairfield
- Hercules
- Kentfield
- Larkspur
- Martinez
- Mill Valley
- Napa
- Novato
- Petaluma
- Pinole
- Richmond
- Rodeo
- Rohnert Park
- San Anselmo
- San Pablo
- San Rafael
- Santa Rosa
- Sausalito
- Sebastopol
- Sonoma
- Suisun City
- Vacaville
- Vallejo
- Windsor
Tips for Visiting a Food Pantry
Show up early.
This is very important. This means you will be first in line and have a chance to get the items that are sought after and in limited quantities such as fresh produce, dairy and frozen food.
You don't usually need to show up hours ahead of time but coming at least an hour before is usually a good idea.
Remember all documentation.
Many food pantries require documentation to prove who you are, and in some cases, where you live.
This is to make sure people are not coming more than they are allowed or using fake names to do so. Call ahead of time to find out what documentation is needed.
It's just your photo ID and a piece of mail that verifies your address.
Use several food banks.
Using more than one food bank (when available) is smart because you may be able to get something at one that you may not get at another.
For instance, one may have a deal with a local gardener that gives them their extras. This may mean this food bank has more produce.
Eligible for other programs?
Ask your Department of Social Services office if you are eligible for other assistance programs to supplement your household’s food supply.
They can easily tell you if you can apply for WIC (Women and Infant Children), USDA Commodities or SNAP(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
Ask about extras.
If you have special needs for infants or special diets, the pantries may be able to assist you.
Many times, they can help with diapers, baby formula, baby food, personal hygiene products, and even special diet items like gluten free or sugar free foods.
Go on different days of the week.
Depending on the food pantry, they may be open only one or two days a week or they may be open all seven days. When you have a choice, going midweek is often best as it is less crowded.
Be polite to workers.
Nearly everyone at a food bank is a volunteer. Be polite to the workers there as they often deal with highly emotional situations.
FAQ(Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What is the difference between a food bank and a food pantry?
Independent community food pantries are self-governing and usually distribute food to their clients on a once-a-month basis. A food bank is the storehouse for millions of pounds of food and other products that go out to the community. A food pantry functions as the arms that reach out to that community directly.
2. What kind of food is at a food pantry?
Specifically, food banks often need items like:
- Peanut butter
- Canned soup
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Pasta
- Canned beans
- Canned stew
- Canned fish
3. Who can go to food pantry?
At the majority of food pantries, eligibility is based on self-attested need. You do not need to have a referral, and income is not a factor to receive food.
4. What is the difference between a food pantry and a soup kitchen?
A food pantry provides three-day food packages to families that have a place to live, but not enough food. These packages are designed to provide nutritionally balanced meals. Soup kitchens serve individuals in need of a hot meal, the only meal of the day for many of them.
5. How does a food pantry work?
Food Banks acquire large donations of edible but unmarketable food from the food industry and distribute it to organizations that feed hungry people. Then they provide this food to family in a need.