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.

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 Program

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Each year the food bank chooses a person whose contributions of time and heart rise above the ordinary.
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.