February 8, 2025
Dear Friend of SOS,
The atmospheric pressure storms have wreaked havoc in and around our community and county, causing those who are unhoused to suffer.
Due to a forecast of freezing temperatures and rain, the City of Sonoma opened a temporary emergency warming center on Tuesday, February 5. After a recent call with the National Weather Service, the City decided to extend activation of the emergency warming center through the weekend, until Monday, February 10. Located at the former SOS Haven (now the City of Sonoma Emergency Homeless Shelter), 151 1st Street West, the warming center will be open and staffed from 7 pm to 7 am. 
SOS, assisted by local partners, got the word out to our homeless clients with flyers and posts on Facebook and NextDoor. In the month of January, 94 people self-declared that they are unhoused. HomeFirst’s data dashboard shows that 49% of individuals on the By Names list come to SOS for their meals and services. In January, we served 434 individuals with 6,397 meals. This is an all-time high.
We try to make Unity Kitchen a warm and welcoming place by serving hot food that is familiar and comforting.
The lunch menu this week:
- Monday – Sweet-sour pork over jasmine rice, with a crispy won ton garnish, garden salad and fresh-baked cookies
- Tuesday – Cheeseburger, red potato salad with celery and onions, green salad, and dessert
- Wednesday – Mexican pozole (recipe from Laura’s mother, Esperanza) with tortilla chips, shredded lettuce, sliced radishes, jalapeños, and hot chili sauce
- Thursday – Chicken penne pasta, turkey, vegetables with pesto, dinner roll, cake
- Friday – Chili dog, salad, dessert
Volunteer David cuts up pork for the huge pots of pozole that Laura is making. In 15 minutes, we served over 200 bowls.
Volunteers Stacey, David, and Susan filled bowls with pozole.
Albert Schweitzer once said, “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.”
SOS shows compassion to the most vulnerable members of Sonoma and Sonoma Valley by providing meals, services, and making them aware of resources like the emergency warming center.
We urgently need your financial assistance to feed our clients during these difficult times. Please help by making a donation soon! A monthly pledge would be a great help.
Gratefully,
Kathy King
Executive Director 
