Food For Thought

The food bank was founded by people who understood that a volunteer-based organization can transform lives in extraordinary ways by sharing common compassion, which works to break down cultural barriers.

Our volunteer program is based on the overarching ideal that everyone in our community is affected by the HIV epidemic regardless of personal HIV status. Here, volunteers are friends, neighbors, and even strangers), providing support to those who live with HIV/AIDS. Many of our volunteers are clients as well as volunteers, while others had never met anyone with HIV until they began to help out at Food For Thought.

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The highest honor the food bank gives for volunteerism is our Golden Can Opener award.

The Golden Can Opener is presented to someone who has made, in a volunteer capacity, an outstanding contribution to the organization in all areas of service.

It’s not presented annually. We only give it when we feel it’s warranted. Only ten of the awards have been presented in the 20 years of the organization.

Golden Can Opener Winners

• 1994 - Andrea Markovicci
• 1994 - Cathy and John Dennison
• 1995 - Jim Boyd
• 1999 - John Shoaf
• 2001- Florence White
• 2002 - Ruth Leftkowitz
• 2004 - Gene Bonino
• 2004 - Shirley Liberman
• 2004 - Park Hafner
• 2008 - Bruce Higton

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The food bank has been blessed by many folks who exemplify the spirit of selfless giving. Over the years the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County has honored many of our food bank volunteers with Silver Bowl Awards at their annual recognition luncheon. We are proud of them and their contributions to enriching the lives of our clients.

Silver Bowl Award Winners:

• 1993 - Kathy O’Neill / Outstanding Adult Volunteer
• 1995 - Stewart Scofield / Outstanding Volunteer Coordinator
• 1996 - Jessica Chisler / Outstanding Youth Volunteer
• 1997 - David Steger / Outstanding Adult Volunteer
• 1998 - John Shoaf / Outstanding Adult Volunteer, Outstanding Volunteer Program
• 1999 - Kathy Dennison / Outstanding Adult Volunteer
• 2000 - Peter Van Dyke / Outstanding Youth Volunteer
• 2001 - John Smith / Outstanding Adult Volunteer
• 2002 - Aleksei Lund / Outstanding Youth Volunteer
• 2003 - Outstanding Volunteer Program
• 2004 - Randall Thompson / Outstanding Adult Volunteer, Outstanding Volunteer ProgramEach year the food bank chooses a person whose contributions of time and heart rise above the ordinary.

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These are our Volunteers of the Year:

• 2008 - Barbara Doyle (You can read an interview with Barbara here.)
• 2007 - Nancy Tello
• 2006 - Diana Lobush and Jim Penpraze
• 2005 - Jim Komarek
• 2004 - Randall Thompson
• 2003 - Angelo Fazzi
• 2002 - Gene Bonino and Bruce Higton
• 2001 - John Smith
• 2000 - Fred King
• 1999 - Kathy Dennison
• 1998 - Shirley Liberman
• 1997 - David Steger
• 1996 - Eva Estermann
• 1995 - Erin Moilanen
• 1994 - Alan Zimmerman
• 1993 - Kathy O’Neill
• 1992 - Andy Jaszewski
• 1991 - Robert Becker
• 1990 - Kathy Dennison

Jim Komarek exemplifies the client who is determined to “give back” to the food bank by volunteering to help others. Jim was diagnosed with AIDS and suffered greatly from the devastating effects of the disease. But he hung in and when protease inhibitors changed the HIV treatment scene, he was one of the fortunate ones to benefit.

After regaining much of his health, he became a volunteer helping other clients get their groceries. He also joined the Board of Directors as the client representative and became an active member of the Calabash Planning Committee.