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NORTH COAST, Calif. — As food insecurity continues to rise across the North Bay, Redwood Credit Union, or RCU, is stepping up to make donating easier than ever.
This holiday season, RCU is collaborating with A Simple Gesture, or ASG, a nonprofit startup, to expand and introduce a “porch-to-pantry” doorstep food collection model for North Bay communities and San Francisco.
The food drive runs through Dec. 19 and is a powerful and convenient way to help ease the hardships caused by the persisting government shutdown and the funding cuts to food banks and safety net services.
By enabling donors to give right from their doorstep, RCU is making it simple and easy to mobilize neighbors to support one another. Community members can sign up to donate at any RCU branch or online at this link.
On Dec. 13, volunteers will pick up the shelf-stable food from donors’ homes and deliver them to local food banks and pantries. Food donations after Dec. 13 can be made directly to food banks.
“Supporting essential human needs like food security has been a priority for RCU for decades, and right now, it’s more important than ever,” says Brett Martinez, president & CEO of Redwood Credit Union. “We know from experience that our community wants to help when there’s a need — so we want to make it easy for them to engage and support. This innovative porch-to-pantry food drive makes it simple and convenient for people to donate and know they're making a difference.”
Through its community giving efforts, RCU has donated more than $250,000 to local organizations working to combat food insecurity in 2025 alone.
In addition, RCU team members volunteer monthly at local food banks to help meet the needs of those facing hunger.
Before the government shutdown, Martinez saw the need for food increasing and took initiative, launching this new food drive model and utilizing a nonprofit startup and technology to scale it into a viable, community-wide solution.
With current conditions intensifying food insecurity, the timing of this initiative has proven both urgent and essential.
Volunteers for the food drive will pick up the donations and deliver them to a partner food bank in the area. These include SF-Marin Food Bank, Redwood Empire Food Bank and Community Action of Napa Valley.
This year’s food drive is more than a seasonal effort. It is a broader commitment from RCU to build a scalable, sustainable solution to fight hunger, and to create lasting solutions and empower our neighbors to support one another.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Join Columbia Bank in making a child’s wish come true for Christmas.
The bank is once again providing the Wish Tree for children under the care of Child Welfare Services in Lake County.
There are many tags to choose from on the trees at the Lakeport and Kelseyville locations of Columbia Bank. Hurry in to choose the wishes you can make come true.
Columbia Bank is reaching out with the hope that community members can join them in achieving their goal of giving each child their wish this Christmas season. It’s a great way to teach your children the gift of giving by getting them involved.
It is so easy to do and very rewarding. Simply come into either of our stores, pick a child’s tag from the tree, and sign our register. Then return your gift by Dec. 10, with the tag on it.
If you don’t have the time to purchase a gift, you can make a monetary donation and they will be happy to do the shopping for you.
Columbia Bank is located in Lakeport at 805 11th St., and in Kelseyville at 4280 Main St.
For more information call 707-262-3371.
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- Written by: Columbia Bank
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. — The Middletown Senior Center will hold its holiday rummage sale on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Senior Center is located at 21256 Washington St., behind the Middletown Square Park on Calistoga Road/Highway 29.
This is an opportunity to stretch your holiday dollars by purchasing new and gently-used gifts at reasonable prices.
All of the proceeds of the event will benefit the Middletown Senior Center, which offers the senior community Meals on Wheels, dine-in meals, weekly classes and groups.
Some of the things that will be featured at the holiday rummage sale include household items, small appliances, musical instruments, travel gear, pet care and tools. There will also be lots of holiday décor.
New this year, will be the Rummage Sale Café serving organic coffee, chai, teas and home-baked goodies. There will be seating to take a break from shopping and have a treat. The café will be open 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This event is an opportunity to check out the facility, support the senior center, mingle with neighbors, cross names off your gift list and get some great deals.
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- Written by: Middletown Senior Center
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. — Christmas tree permits are available to purchase online through Recreation.gov.
Details about designated cutting areas, dates, and types of trees that may be cut may be found here.
To purchase a Christmas tree permit, visit Recreation.gov and search for Mendocino National Forest Christmas Tree Permits. It is important to carefully read the overview and need-to-know information prior to purchasing the permit. Visitors will also need to set up or log in to a Recreation.gov account to complete the transaction.
Visitors can also purchase Christmas tree permits in person from local vendors and forest offices. Forest offices in Willows, Stonyford, Upper Lake and Covelo will have permits for sale. Hours and availability may vary.
Fourth graders with an Every Kid Outdoors pass are eligible for a free Christmas tree permit and can apply by entering the pass or voucher number when purchasing a permit (note: a $2.50 reservation fee will be applied).
Cutting a Christmas tree also improves forest health. The permit system helps thin densely populated stands of small-diameter trees. Local forest health experts identify areas that benefit from thinning trees that tend to be the perfect size for Christmas trees. Removing these trees in designated areas helps other trees grow larger and can open areas that provide forage for wildlife.
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- Written by: Mendocino National Forest