Sonoma County Tourism Cares
We welcome you to join us in giving back to the community and helping to highlight just how much the Sonoma County tourism industry cares. Contact Devin McConnell at [email protected] for more information on how to get involved.
Past Sonoma County Tourism Cares Efforts:
Native Grasslands Planting with Conservation Works – March 2023
Sonoma County Tourism Cares joined up with Conservation Works the morning of March 17 for a native grassland planting event at Paradise Ridge Winery. Nineteen of our hospitality partners joined us as we planted native grasses (which helps prevent soil erosion and assists in carbon sequestration) and milkweed (an important food source for the threatened monarch butterfly). Volunteers heard from experts at Conservation Works about the value of native plants and its important role in the preservation of our ecosystem.
Donation Drive for Personal Hygiene Products – Nov & Dec 2022
Sonoma County Tourism Cares was pleased to partner with the Cotati Chamber of Commerce, Mark West Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, Petaluma Visitors Program, Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce, Russian River Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center, Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center, and Windsor Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center on a personal hygiene products donation drive. Throughout the months of November and December, we encouraged our partners to donate hygiene products to benefit Northern California's unhoused population. Approximately 365 pounds of product was collected and sent to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa for distribution to those in need.
Redwood Empire Food Bank – May 6, 2022
As part of the weeklong celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week (May 1-7), Sonoma County Tourism held another Sonoma County Tourism Cares volunteer event at the Redwood Empire Food Bank warehouse. Volunteers gathered for an early morning of weighing and bagging produce for distribution to those in need.
Donation Drive for Personal Hygiene Products – November 2021
Sonoma County Tourism Cares was pleased to partner with the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce, Petaluma Visitors Program, Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce, Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center, and Windsor Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center on a personal hygiene products donation drive. Throughout the month of November, we encouraged our partners to donate hygiene products to benefit Northern California's unhoused population. Approximately 236 pounds of product was collected and sent to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa for distribution to those in need.
Steelhead Beach Regional Park – April 22, 2021
To celebrate Earth Day 2021, Sonoma County Tourism partnered with Sonoma County Regional Parks for a cleanup at Steelhead Beach Regional Park. Volunteers explored trails to remove debris including carpet, an antique school desk, and hundreds of bits of (ecologically harmful) plastic confetti.
Redwood Empire Food Bank – March 4, 2021
Sonoma County Tourism was thrilled to return to Redwood Empire Food Bank to help fight food insecurity in the time of COVID-19. Twenty-two masked and socially distanced volunteers gathered to bag oranges and carrots for distribution to those in need. Donations totaling a few hundred dollars was also kindly provided to REFB from our wonderful tourism and hospitality partners.
Thank You Cards for Firefighters – November 2020
Sonoma County Tourism partnered with the Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL) on a Thank You letter writing campaign for local firefighters. Tourism and hospitality employees put pen to paper to express their sincere gratitude to our local heroes, with a total of 567 cards evenly distributed to Sonoma County’s 33 fire stations.
Census Caravan - August 1, 2020
A fleet of 20 vehicles departed from Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country and paraded through census designated hard-to-count neighborhoods in northwest Santa Rosa; honking horns and waving hands to raise awareness of the importance of the U.S. Census.
The caravan was organized in partnership with CAP Sonoma and the U.S. Census Bureau as the premiere event of Sonoma County Census Action Week.
Blood Drive for NTTW - May 3-9, 2020
With the limitations in place by COVID-19, we were unable to physically come together for a Tourism Cares event in the spring of 2020, but we still found a way to safely give back to the community, and do so in a profoundly impactful way: by donating blood.
During National Travel and Tourism Week, May 3-9, we encouraged our tourism and hospitality employees to schedule a visit to our local blood bank. Pictured above is a thoughtful Tourism Cares blood donor, Jessica Schroeder, from the Vintners Resort.
To learn more about life saving blood donation, please visit vitalant.org
Foothill Regional Park Restoration - Feb. 26, 2020
Sonoma County Tourism, in partnership with the Windsor Chamber of Commerce and Sonoma County Regional Parks, gathered 64 volunteers from the tourism and hospitality industry to remove debris and assist with restoration efforts of Foothill Regional Park – which had sustained damage in the Kincade fire of October 2019.
As a result of everyone’s efforts, 981 melted golf balls (among other debris) was collected, invasive broom was removed, and an unsanctioned path was closed.Bodega Dunes Coastal Clean-up - Sept. 21, 2019
Over 70 volunteers came out to the Bodega Dunes beach on Sept. 21 for the summer 2019 Sonoma County Tourism Cares clean-up event. Sonoma County Tourism partnered with Coastwalk California Coastal Trail Association for this effort, as part of the statewide California Coastal Clean-up Day.
Approximately 46 pounds of trash was collected along the Bodega Dunes beach. The bulk of the debris gathered by volunteers consisted of small items. The most frequent objects discovered were cigarette butts, bottle caps, and various small plastic/polystyrene foam pieces. It is these small pieces of trash that can have the biggest negative impact on coastal wildlife.
All of the debris collected was weighed and recorded so that the data could be passed on to the Ocean Conservancy. The data collected from California Coastal Clean-up Day is used to help determine solutions for reducing the amount of waste entering our oceans and coastline.
Spring Lake Regional Park - May 9, 2019
In recognition of National Travel and Tourism Week, volunteers from the hospitality and tourism community came out in force on May 9, 2019 to Spring Lake Regional Park to help clean and prepare it for the busy summer season. Volunteers joined park staff in picking up litter along the shores of the park’s 72-acre lake.
Left Edge Theatre - April 22, 2019
Sonoma County Toursim Cares was hard at work for Left Edge Theatre - helping to break down an old set and build a new one. Additionally, volunteers worked to organize the green room, prop room, and backstage area.
Sonoma Family Meal - December 1, 2018
A group of Sonoma Tourism Cares volunteers gathered on Saturday, Dec. 1, in the kitchen at Sonoma Family Meal. They chopped vegetables and made tamales, soups, and noodles for weekly meals that were distributed to about 80 families who lost their homes in the October 2017 wildfires, and are still recovering
Petaluma Visitors Center - August 15, 2018
Grace Nistler (L), Susan Villa (C), and other volunteers move wood chips to planting areas at the Petlauma Visitors Center.
We pulled out weeds and dead plants, added new soil, planted new plants, and spread wood chips in contained planting areas to beautify The Petaluma Visitors Center, which is housed in a 1914 yellow train depot next to the new SMART train platform.
Redwood Empire Food Bank- May 7, 2018
Left, Maria Dougherty of Paradise Ridge Winery, Ann Possinger of Sonoma County Orchid Society and Volunteer, Barbara Cox of Sonoma County Vintners, and Gilda Gonzalez of Sonoma County Tourism help out at Redwood Empire Food Bank.
We helped Redwood Empire Food Bank in their efforts to end hunger in our communities. Volunteer activities included: gleaning through produce, boxing non-perishable items, and sorting through donated food items.
LandPaths at the Riddell Preserve - May 9, 2018
From left, Gianna Kaya Cacci, Stacey Washburn, and Aubry Horne, all from Oxford Suites Sonoma County in Rohnert Park volunteer to help clear overgrown brush at Landpath's Riddell Preserve.
We helped LandPaths with trail building, so that Riddell Preserve can be opened for greater access to visitors, residents, school groups and other educational programs. The volunteer work combined habitat restoration, fire risk management, and trail building.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore - May 11, 2018
Left, Sierra Downey of Sonoma County Tourism and Nate Baker of Sonoma County Economic Development Board/Sonoma County Tourism lend a hand at Tourism Cares Habitat.
We helped Sonoma County's 17,000 sq. ft. discount home improvement store organize new and gently-used building materials and furniture. All operating profits from ReStore sales support Habitat's build programs, including post-fire rebuild projects, and some items donated to ReStore are used in Habitat homes and projects. While making home improvement affordable for consumers, the store reduces the amount of waste that goes into the landfill.
Redwood Empire Food Bank - December 28 & 29, 2017
We helped to repackage food, prepare and package frozen meals, and distributed food at various locations in Sonoma County to our neighbors who have been affected by the fires. Palms Inn Work Day for Homeless Housing - May 8, 2017
Palms Work Day, 3345 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa
Supported by Habitat for Humanity. The Palms is a converted lodging property serving the homeless and veterans.
Riverfront Regional Park Improve Redwood Grove Area - May 8, 2017
Riverfront Regional Park, 7821 Eastside Road, Healdsburg
Worked with park staff to spread mulch, remove invasive plants and install fencing. Tools, gloves, water and snacks were provided, plus free parking.
Goatlandia - May 9, 2017
Goatlandia, 2336 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa
Goatlandia Farm Animal Sanctuary - build and clean day!
Time to brush the animals and also learn about living a compassionate lifestyle.
CAP Headstart - May 9, 2017
CAP Head Start, 141 Stony Circle, Suite 210, Santa Rosa
Helped them finish up school! Helped with school packets, copy/collate, cut/laminating.
Pepperwood Preserve trail work and exotic species removal - May 10, 2017
Pepperwood Preserve, 2130 Pepperwood Preserve Rd., Santa Rosa
You will be working outdoors, bring water, work gloves and wear sturdy shoes. Snacks provided.
The Pony Express Rocks - Arena beautification - fence repair, paint & vegetation removal - May 11, 2017
The Pony Express Rocks, 6413 Sonoma Hwy., in Santa Rosa
Supporting at-risk youth where horses are used as teachers, healers and agents of change.
Not Pictured:
Spring Lake Park Invasive Plant Removal - May 10, 2017
Spring Lake Park , 393 Violetti Drive, Santa Rosa
Worked with park staff to remove invasive plants. Tools, gloves, water and snacks were provided, plus free parking.
LITE Initiatives: Living lightly with bicycles
Lite Initiative (Community Bikes), 4019 Sebastopol Rd., Santa Rosa
Size & inventory bikes. No experience necessary.
Doran Park Beach Clean Up - May 13, 2017
Doran Park, 201 Doran Beach Road, Bodega Bay
Worked with park staff to clean two miles of beach. Tools, gloves, water and snacks provided. Plus free parking.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul, May 13, 2017
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, 610 Wilson Rd., Santa Rosa
Served meals to homeless; set up and clean up too. Closed toed shoes required. Volunteer application and emergency contact information.