TODAY’S NEWSLETTER INCLUDES:

1. SNAP BUDDY DRIVE!! CHANGE IN DISTRIBUTION SITE - WELCOME SONOMA FAMILY MEAL!
Open to public 9:00 - 1:00 M-F
2. THIS COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WILL ROCK

Thank you to Vintage House and La Luz for helping us get this off the ground. We are moving of of our distribution sites from Vintage House to Sonoma Family Meal. We are so grateful for all of the positive community response to help get this up and running!!!

Watch the gauge grow with support! We will post our progress daily on Instagram and our FB page.
Help us meet our goal!

GROCERY GIFT CARD DONATION DRIVE
11-10 through 11-17.

If you donate to Wake UP Sonoma using this link:
Donate — Wake UP Sonoma
Indicate in the note field - “SNAP Buddy ”, We will take that money and buy gift cards that will go directly to distribution sites - Sonoma Family Meal and La Luz.

ALSO at the Community Conversation Nov. 15, we will have a gift card drive there as well - money donated to us that day will go directly to SNAP BUDDY grocery cards.
Spanish versions of the SNAP BUDDY program cards are available on our Website. www.wakeupsonoma.org
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STRENGTHEN OUR COMUNITY

SONOMA SNAP BUDDY
PROGRAM

Buy ONLY local grocery store gift cards- cards that can be used to shop at that grocery store. The most user friendly stores for consumers are Lucky and Safeway. Other stores like Sonoma Market and Whole Foods are also ok, but not preferred.

Each card must be $20. For example, if you can donate $200, buy ten $20 grocery cards (not one $200 card).

Take grocery card to Refill Madness, and we will get them to La Luz and Sonoma Family Meal where they can be picked up by those in need.

Gift cards donated through this program that go to La Luz will be incorporated into their SNAP (EBT) emergency relief program while supplies are available. La Luz may ask for proof EBT status.

For the latest availability information call:

La Luz Center at 707-938-5131

Sonoma Family Meal at 707-939-6777
Open for Grocery card pick up to the public M-F 9:00 - 1:00

THANKS TO VOLUNTEERS WHO STEPPED FORWARD! More still needed as alternates.

JOIN THE SONOMA SNAP BUDDY PROGRAM TEAM!
We need Volunteers to serve shifts to:
1. Pick up grocery cards - Must be available to pick up at RM at 2:45-3:00 and then take to distribution sites before 3:30 the same day. (La Luz and Sonoma Family Meal)
2. Canvass the community with informing materials about the program - we now have to correct our post-cards with new distribution site!
BUT - If you can’t volunteer
DONATE to SNAP Buddy grocery cards.
Donate — Wake UP Sonoma
To Volunteer send an email to wakeupsonoma@gmail.com
Put SNAP BUDDY in the subject line.

YOU REQUESTED A DEEP CONVERSATION - SO HERE IT IS!

JUST ADDED!
A representative from Mike Thompson's office will be there to address immigration advocacy, casework assistance, and actions his office is taking to fight this administration.

Let’s have a deeper conversation about:
Immigrant and community safety and food insecurity. As things continue to change and morph and become even unbelievably scarier, we all need a place to process what we are feeling and how to transform those feelings into action and sanity. Local Immigrant and food organizations have all done such an amazing job of bringing information to the community. They have educated us about their organizations and their priorities... but we hope to take it a bit deeper. 

Come be part of the conversation!!!

Moderated by  Martín Gobbée and Lisa Storment

THIS CONVERSATION WILL MATTER.
RSVP LINK HERE: Wake UP Sonoma Monthly Meeting - November 15 — Wake UP Sonoma

NOVEMBER 15, 2025 - 11:00-1:00 at Burlingame Hall
252 Spain Street, Sonoma
Nosh and talk

1. Support Sonoma Immigrant Community as Allies 
2. Be Part of the Community Safety-Net against ICE
3. Create Neighborhood Watch/Neighborhood Pods 
4. Address Food Insecurity - what can you do to help

Provider Partners who will be part of the conversation

NBRRN (North Bay Rapid Response Network)
Catalyst Fund CEO, Angela Ryan
Sonoma County BOS - Rebecca Hermosillo and
Betsy Chavez.
La Luz Center ED, Leonardo Lobato
Sonoma Immigrant Services represented by NBRRN and LaLuz.
Also now joining,
Sonoma City Mayor
Patricia Farrar- Rivas
Tables available: NBRRN, Sonoma Valley Democrats, Wake UP Sonoma, and Mike Thompson’s office
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ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW REALLY DID ROCK!
LET THE PICTURES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
Thank you Sonoma for showing up and Supporting Sonoma Valley Pride!
Find out more by visiting their website
Sonoma Valley Pride - Celebrating Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity for all

ANNOUNCING PRIDE WEEKEND JUNE 12-14
STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS!!!

ALL of these pictures courtesy of Melania Mahoney
Pictures from Chris Wall coming and more from Melania!

SONOMA VALLEY PRIDE CURRENT TEAM. PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING TO PLAN PRIDE 2026!

Our Vision: To foster a vibrant, just, respectful and welcoming Sonoma Valley community.

OUR MISSION IS TO:
EDUCATE - by providing resources to Sonoma Valley residents to be informed and engaged.
ADVOCATE - for local diversity, equity, inclusion, civic and corporate transparency.
ACTIVATE - by promoting democracy and providing opportunities for local engagement.

We Educate. Advocate. Activate.
on issues related, but not limited to:
- LGBTQIA+ safety and visibility
- Protection of our immigrant population
- Defense against Christian Nationalism
- Transparency in large corporate investment and responsible development
- Active local civic engagement