Already familiar with the goals of the Service Industry Relief Fund? Just want to make a donation? Click the button below. And THANK YOU for your support!
Attention, Service Industry Workers!
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Do you or did you work in a service industry job in Sonoma County? (A service industry job is any occupation that doesn’t involve agriculture, government, manufacturing.)
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Did you lose your job or were your hours reduced by more than half as a result of COVID-19?
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Was your total household income less than
$81, 000 in 2019? -
Was your job NOT considered “essential” by the State of California?
If you answered “Yes” to all of these questions, you may be eligible for a stipend of $500 from the Service Industry Relief Fund of Sonoma County!
Our Mission
The mission of the Service Industry Relief Fund of Sonoma County is to provide cash to workers in the service sector of the County’s economy who do not work at jobs deemed essential by the State of California. Many of these workers were already earning less than the County’s median income* when they lost most or all of their employment due to the COVID-19 crisis.
*Median household income in Sonoma County was $73,500 in 2018, according to the datausa.io web site, using data from “County Health Rankings & Roadmaps,” a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Who We Help
Service Industry Employees in Sonoma County in 2019
Leisure and Hospitality: 25,700
Accommodation and Food Service: 21,700
Food Services and Drinking Places: 17,800
Other Services: 7,100
Total: 72,300
Source: Labor Market Info web site, Employment Development Department (EDD), State of California
Make a Difference
The Service Industry Relief Fund of Sonoma County (SIRFSC) is a project of the Society of St, Vincent de Paul District Council of Sonoma County. St. Vincent dePaul Sonoma County is a 501(c)(3)nonprofit that has been helping those in need for more than 60 years.
The SIRFSC is funded entirely by the generosity of people like you. Every dollar you donate goes toward helping Sonoma County service workers in need.
Send your check or money order to:
SIRFSC
C/O Krista Williams
St. Vincent de Paul Sonoma County
PO Box 1095
Rohnert Park, CA 94927
or
You can donate with PayPal or a credit card using the button below:
Please Note: if you're going to donate via PayPal do not enter any information into the blank credit card fields. If you are going to donate via a credit card, do not enter any information into the PayPal fields. Thanks!
Thanks to Our Wonderful Donors!
$10,000 and Above:
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Abbey, Weitzenburg, Warren, and Emery
$5,000 to $9,999:
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Pat Emery
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Bart and Lynn Weitzenburg
$1,000 TO $4,999:
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Bill Buchanan
$500 to $999:
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Guy Conner
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Michael Dortch
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Sen. Noreen Evans (ret.)
$250 to $499:
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Kurt Cahenzli
$100 to $249:
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Robert and Gail Souza
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Patricia Love
$1 to $99:
Robin Ralke
Krista Williams
We couldn't do this without our donors, and are grateful for every single donation. So if you'd like to join them, just click on the nearby "Donate" button, or mail a check to the address below -- and thanks so much for your support!
Meet Krista
Hi. My name is Krista, and I’m here to tell you about a group of your fellow citizens who need your support.
I’m talking about the members of the service industries right here in Sonoma County. I don’t just mean those who support tourism – the servers in our fine restaurants and tasting rooms, and the workers in our hotels. I also mean those who serve our own citizens – the cosmetologists, the fitness trainers, and baristas.
Together, there are tens of thousands of them, a sizable proportion of our county’s population. They share the following circumstances.
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They made less than our county’s median income – which was more than $81,000 in 2019!
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They lost most or all of their employment and income when the pandemic hit.
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They barely staved off disaster for the months of April, May, June, and July.
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Since the government funds ended, they are unable to pay all their bills.
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Some have lost or face losing their housing.
I should know. I'm one of them. Here’s my story.
In 2004, I found myself living with my parents here in Sonoma County. I was a single parent with a young child to care for, and no money – I was on welfare and food stamps. I worked hard, got myself through Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University, and graduated with a degree in Kinesiology. I then went to work at Parkpoint Health Club as a Personal Trainer.
In February 2020, I achieved my personal goal and was promoted to Fitness Director. In March, the COVID-19 crisis hit and we were shut down. We then went into overtime to create a safe and sanitary space for our members, for when we were allowed to re-open.
We were open for two weeks before the government shut us down again. I am now receiving minimal wages, minimal unemployment benefits, and a questionable future.
I am just one of tens of thousands of Sonoma County service industry workers who need your help. The State of California may think our jobs are “non-essential,” but we have provided services to you, your friends, your family, and our visitors who have found us essential for years.
We want to be able to continue providing those services to you in the future.
Please give as much as you can, as soon as you can. Thank you.
