On Monday November 10, 2014, Linkenheimer LLP employees and partners spent part of their evening helping prepare food packages for seniors. Prior to the ‘assembly line’ effort, we were given a tour of the food bank’s beautiful facilities, and information on the needs of Sonoma County residents and what the food bank provides. Being the accountants that we are, numbers are always welcome, but in this case, the numbers were both astonishing and sobering.

  • 82,000 people (1 in 6 people in Sonoma County) face the threat of hunger every month, and this is the number served by the food bank, every month.
  • Of the 82,000 people: 36,200 are children, 11,800 are seniors, and 13,500 are working families.
  • The Redwood Empire Food Bank is in the top 6% of food banks nationwide in the amount of food provided per person in poverty.
  • During 2014, the food bank distributed 14.5 million pounds of food, which is the equivalent of over 33,000 meals a day, and provided food for two wholesome meals for every $1 spent.

These figures are hard to comprehend when you think of Sonoma County and all of the beauty that surrounds us; but, hunger has no boundaries, and it crosses the full spectrum of all those who live here. I came home that evening to a warm house and a hot meal, and could not help but feel for the number of our neighbors, and yes, they are all of our neighbors, who would be facing a cold night and no dinner.

You will no doubt see the Redwood Empire Food Bank food collection cans scattered throughout the county during the holidays. Please consider donating canned/dried goods to the food bank to help them help those who are in need of a meal.

Thank you from all of us at Linkenheimer LLP.

Written by Steve Miksis, CPA, Senior Manager