Matter of Trust is proud to be the fiscal sponsor for SONOMA Food Runners, which relays food throughout Sonoma County. This enables them to focus on building their organizational capacity before fully establishing their own non-profit status.

SONOMA Food Runners’ mission is to alleviate hunger, prevent food waste, and build community. They collect quality, donated perishable and prepared foods that would otherwise go to waste and use volunteers to distribute it throughout the community to those in need.

When you ask June Michaels why she founded SONOMA Food Runners, she’ll tell you with passionate indignation that it just doesn’t make sense for people to go hungry in a place where there is such an abundance of food.

June was inspired by family traditions of sharing handed down from her mother, as well as by the food pioneers that have paved the way before her. SONOMA Food Runners was a mission waiting to be born once June landed in Sonoma County with a little free time on her hands and saw the need.

Food rescues have been popping up all over the world to feed the hungry and reduce the waste of good food. In the tradition of Bay Area leaders such as San Francisco’s Food Runners, Marin’s Extra Food.org, the East Bay’s Food Shift and Peninsula Food Runners, SONOMA Food Runners is carrying the torch to Sonoma County and leading the way in sharing excess food with those in need.

http://www.sonomafoodrunners.org

SONOMA Food Runners responded to the immediate need during the North Bay fires in October of 2017. June Michaels secured and transported food to local chefs and their volunteer teams, preparing meals for evacuees and first responders. Sirens blared and phone alerts continued every hour for days until the blazes were out. Everyone was packed and ready to leave at a moments notice. Locals were on edge and watching alerts for where the new fires were popping up. After the fires, SFR shuttled gifts from generous out-of-the-area donors. Food, clothing, blankets and more got to those in dire need in various shelters. SFR continues to assist the relief efforts, helping people get back on their feet by supplying meals. Sadly, over 7,500 buildings including many homes were destroyed, 44 human lives lost and countless animals perished in one of California’s deadliest fires.

SONOMA Food Runners was proud to be part of 2016’s Super Bowl Food Rescue.

June Michaels did the late night Treasure Island pick up which netted 3,654 lbs and the Monday morning SF Super Bowl City kiosk donation of 470 lbs, totaling 4,124 lbs to feed our hungry. These were referrals by Food Runners of San Francisco.