The Redwood Empire Food Bank ensures a healthy start in life by filling the meal gap for at-risk children. Our Every Child, Every Day Initiative operates four robust programs specifically designed to end childhood hunger and fuel growing bodies and active minds. Addressing the nutritional needs of children of all ages and targeting seasonal meal gaps, the Redwood Empire Food Bank provides local families the bounty of fresh produce, nourishing groceries, and healthy meals that their children need to grow up healthy and strong, and stay engaged in school activities.

Summer Lunch

When schools break for the summer months, thousands of growing children from low-income families in our community lose access to free and reduced-cost school lunches. Summer Lunch fills the meal gap by delivering healthy meals and a variety of enrichment and physical activities to at-risk children throughout Sonoma County.

Afterschool Café

The Redwood Empire Food Bank’s Afterschool Café program provides children in low-income neighborhoods, and who would otherwise end the school day on an empty stomach, with nourishing food. Nutritious snacks and balanced suppers from a diverse menu of hot and cold entrees are served, accompanied by fresh fruit, vegetables, and milk.

School Pantry

Thousands of children in our region live with the uncertainty of when they will eat their next meal, while their parents struggle to provide ample nourishment to support their healthy development. School Pantry alleviates childhood hunger and bolsters nutritional intake by providing consistent access to fresh, vitamin-dense foods, which fuel growing bodies and active minds.

Preschool Pantry

Preschool Pantry is a weekly provision of groceries for families with children attending state funded subsidized preschool programs in Sonoma County. Similar to School Pantry, parents pick up produce and donated food items when they pick their children up from child care. Preschool Pantry is open to all low-income families enrolled in preschool.

Daily Essentials – Diaper Bank

The Redwood Empire Food Bank has officially become a member of the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) and is the designated Diaper Bank for Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties. This means that in addition to free groceries, families can also receive free diapers at our food distributions. We recognize that diapers and other health and hygiene items are absolutely necessary and extremely important to maintain our health and well-being.