2025 Grantee Spotlight: Redwood Empire Food Bank
We recently spoke with Trey Hart, Grant Writer at Redwood Empire Food Bank, about what it took to keep food on the table for thousands of local families over the past year. In this Q&A, Trey reflects on how Healdsburg Forever’s 2025 grant supported food distributions in Healdsburg and Geyserville, what the team has seen as demand continues to rise, and why flexible, community-based funding matters more than ever right now.
Q: How was your Healdsburg Forever grant used in 2025, and who did it serve?
The grant from Healdsburg Forever supported our hunger relief activities in Healdsburg and Geyserville, helping fund staff salaries and the food we distributed locally. As Sonoma County’s primary food bank, we work to end hunger by operating direct food distributions and by providing food to partner organizations that run their own hunger relief programs.
Anyone experiencing food insecurity in Healdsburg or Geyserville can access food through our three core initiatives. Neighborhood Hunger Network includes Groceries to Go, our highest-participation program, and Food Connections, which provides one-on-one support with CalFresh applications. Every Child, Every Day offers year-round food assistance to families with school-aged children, and Senior Security provides specialized food and social connection for adults ages 60 and older.
Each time a client attends a distribution, they receive enough food to prepare the equivalent of 26 meals, including fresh California-grown produce, protein, dairy, bread, and shelf-stable items. Seniors can also receive an additional monthly USDA food provision.
Q: What kind of local impact did that support have in Healdsburg and Geyserville?
Healdsburg Forever’s grant helped us provide consistent access to healthy food at a time when rising grocery costs have placed nutritious options out of reach for many households. Between March and November 2025, our distributions in Healdsburg and Geyserville served an average of 2,677 unduplicated individuals each month and provided food equivalent to 688,636 meals.
We operated distribution sites at locations including Corazón Healdsburg, Healdsburg City Hall, Healdsburg Elementary, later moving to Healdsburg Regional Park, the Healdsburg Senior Center, Geyserville New Tech Academy, and Trinity Baptist Church. We also partnered with organizations such as Alliance Medical Center and Healdsburg Shared Ministries to support their hunger relief programs.
Q: What challenges did your organization face this year, and how did you respond?
The most significant challenge has been severe cuts to federal funding and food commodities. In April 2025, we received cancellation notices for a major USDA food order valued at more than $750,000, as well as federal grant and contract funding representing about 20 percent of our projected revenue. These losses came at the same time as rising food costs, with produce acquisition prices increasing by 80 percent since 2022, and a general decline in individual donations.
In response, we made difficult but necessary operational adjustments. We consolidated distribution schedules, changed how protein is offered, placed limits on distribution frequency, and expanded volunteer- and partner-run sites to reduce staffing strain. These changes have helped us continue providing a diverse and nutritious provision of help despite growing financial pressure.
Q: How has demand for food assistance changed recently?
Demand has risen sharply, particularly over the past few months. The average number of households we served in Healdsburg and Geyserville increased by 116 percent from the first half of the year to the second. In October alone, more than 1,500 new families sought assistance for the first time, followed by another 500 new families in early November.
Even after some CalFresh benefits were restored, attendance at our distributions continues to exceed projections. We anticipate that demand for our services will continue to grow into 2026.
Q: What does continued community support make possible moving forward?
Support from Healdsburg Forever has given us the flexibility to adjust operations while preserving our role as the local nutritional safety net. Hunger is all-consuming, and access to consistent, healthy food can be the difference between ongoing crisis and stability for children, families, and seniors.
As the largest hunger relief provider in this area, we are committed to securing the resources needed to meet evolving community needs. Continued partnership and community support are essential to ensuring that residents of Healdsburg and Geyserville do not have to endure the painful consequences of hunger.
To learn more about Redwood Empire Food Bank and how they are working to address food insecurity across Sonoma County, visit www.refb.org.
