Response to Coronavirus
The Redwood Empire Food Bank is fully operational. Circumstances are fluid, and we’ll be updating this page with the most recent information. We are taking all necessary precautions to help make sure that staff, volunteers, food, and participants remain safe so our distributions can continue.
We are monitoring announcements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure that we are following their recommended guidelines. The Redwood Empire Food Bank also follows the guidance of Cal/OSHA, which oversees workplace safety.
In addition, the Redwood Empire Food Bank is taking the following proactive and voluntary steps to help reduce contact and/or spread of Coronavirus:
- Limiting volunteer shifts and utilizing an outdoor tent to allow for safe social distancing
- Requiring all unvaccinated volunteers to wear a face-covering (mask, cloth, bandana)
- Providing gloves to all volunteers handling food at our distribution sites
- Extending distribution hours to avoid clustering
- Spacing out our products at distributions to practice social distancing
- Implementing drive-thru distributions when and where available
- Boxing food for distributions to create easy grab-and-go procedures
- Making hand sanitizers available throughout our sites
- Increasing the visibility and importance of hand-washing
- Advising people to avoid touching their eyes, nose, mouth with unwashed hands
- Advising people to avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Advising staff and volunteers to stay home if they display signs of illness or come into contact with affected individuals
Below, we have provided answers to questions regarding the Coronavirus pandemic.
1. Is the Redwood Empire Food Bank still open and continuing its daily operations?
Yes. The Redwood Empire Food Bank is fully operational. Since the situation is fluid, our distributions, hours, and volunteer shifts may be changing.
To stay current on where and when to get food: please click here.
To stay current on volunteer opportunities: please click here.
2. Is the Redwood Empire Food Bank still accepting volunteers at the Santa Rosa warehouse?
Yes. We need your help more than ever! Please visit our portal at refb.volunteerhub.com to sign up for a shift.
We are practicing safe protocol by limiting volunteer shifts and placing everyone in a large outdoor tent that grants space for 6ft social distancing. This tent is located behind our building (3990 Brickway Blvd.).
Situations will arise where we’ll need volunteers on call. If you are willing to donate your time, please email volunteers@refb.org or sign up here.
We politely ask that if you are ill, or have been in contact with someone who is ill, please stay home.
3. Is the Redwood Empire Food Bank closing any food distributions due to Coronavirus?
Distributions will continue as scheduled whenever possible, but the situation is fluid and some sites may change. In the event that a public gathering is not permitted, we will do our best to offer drive-thru food distributions. We plan to adapt as necessary. We have expanded hours at some sites to limit clustering, and we are spacing food to allow for social distancing. We are in contact with the California Department of Social Services. We have also been communicating with our partner organizations on CDC advice along with updates and guidance from Feeding America and the National Council on Aging.
We currently do not have a home delivery program. We encourage caregivers, family members, and neighbors to pick-up for seniors who are homebound or unable to make the distribution.
To see all our distributions, please visit getfood.refb.org.
4. Is the Redwood Empire Food Bank hosting special Coronavirus food distributions for people in need?
Yes. We have over 300 food distribution points, and as needed, we activate our Station 3990 distribution sites. Station 3990 is activated when there is a disaster. It’s important to understand that this program isn’t a tool or a location. Rather, it is the response, activity, or approach. The activation designation helps us understand how a specific donation of food is going to be distributed, what message needs to be communicated to the public, and where a temporary food distribution outpost needs to be established.
For a full list of food distribution sites throughout Sonoma County and surrounding counties, please visit getfood.refb.org.
5. What is the Redwood Empire Food Bank doing to reduce contact and/or the spread of Coronavirus?
The Redwood Empire Food Bank is committed to the safety of our staff, volunteers, and visitors. We are closely monitoring announcements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure that we are following their recommended guidelines. The Redwood Empire Food Bank is taking the following proactive and voluntary steps to help reduce contact and/or spread of Coronavirus while visiting.
- Placing volunteers in an outdoor tented area to allow for social distancing and safer operations
- Requiring all unvaccinated volunteers to wear a face-covering (mask, cloth, bandana)
- Providing gloves to all volunteers handling food at our distribution sites
- Extending distribution hours to avoid clustering
- Spacing out our products at distributions to practice social distancing
- Implementing drive-thru distributions when and where available
- Boxing food for distributions to create easy grab-and-go procedures
- Making hand sanitizers available throughout our sites
- Increasing the visibility and importance of hand-washing
- Advising people to avoid touching their eyes, nose, mouth with unwashed hands
- Advising people to avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Advising staff and volunteers to stay home if they display signs of illness or come into contact with affected individuals
For more information on Coronavirus, please visit the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website and the California Department of Public Health website. Both websites are updated daily with the latest information and advice for the public.
