Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1) What is included in my meal?

One entree and two sides for two or four people, depending on order size. Our meals are well-rounded, and always include a starch, veggies, and protein. Sometimes we might even surprise you with some fun extras in the bag! Each week, you have the option to purchase add-ons such as sides, soups, and desserts for an additional charge.

2) I have special dietary preferences, restrictions, or allergies. Can I request a substitution for an ingredient or item I don’t want in my meal?

We accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions such as gluten-free and dairy-free for an additional fee of $10 per month. We are unable to make custom substitutions based on personal food preferences, but you are welcome to give your meal to a family or friend, or we can donate your meal to a family in need with advanced notice. Please email elana@sonomafamilymeal.org for assistance.

3) Where and when do I pick up my meal?

Days and times: Healdsburg pick up is on Wednesdays, all other locations are on Tuesdays.
While some deliveries will arrive early, your guaranteed pick up time is from 5:00 to 6:30 PM. Our refrigerated delivery van drops meals off to the non-refrigerated distribution sites by 5pm, so this time range is to ensure there is no health risk from the food being unrefrigerated for too long.

Locations:

East Petaluma - Sonoma Family Meal
1370A Redwood Way, Petaluma, CA 94954

West Petaluma - Rusty Hinges Ranch
212 Chileno Valley Rd, Petaluma, CA 94952

Santa Rosa - Wilibees Wine & Spirits
700 3rd St, Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Sebastopol - The Punchdown at The Barlow
6770 Mckinley Street, St 130 Sebastopol, CA 95472

Healdsburg - Dragonfly Floral
425 Westside Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Stay tuned, as we are working on finding additional distribution locations in neighborhoods near you!

Please pick up during your allotted timeframe or let us know if you aren't able, as we can not guarantee refrigeration at these locations over night.

4) What if I miss my pick up or What are my alternatives if I can't pick up my meal this week?

If you are unable to pick up on pick up day, please email elana@sonomafamilymeal.org in advance to explore alternative options. Some distribution sites may be able to refrigerate your meal overnight if needed, but it's not guaranteed, so your meal might be donated by the end of the night. Please do not reach out to the business directly, as it could jeopardize our partnership with them.

If you know you cannot pick up your meal at all in any particular week, it is best to let us know as much in advance as possible, so that we can divert food waste and arrange for your meal to be donated to a family experiencing food insecurity before being sent for delivery.

5) Can someone else pick up my meal on my behalf?

Absolutely! If you'd like someone else to pick up your order or you’re going to be out of town that week and want to share the love with a friend or family member, just make sure they can provide the name the order was placed under and arrive at the designated pick-up location and time. You can also let us know in advance by emailing elana@sonomafamilymeal.org.

6) Planning on being out of town for one of the subscription weeks? No problem! Here are your alternatives:

Let Sonoma Family Meal donate your meal.
Donate your meal to a friend or family member to enjoy!
If you are out of town for a couple weeks or okay with not receiving meals for one month, we do have the ability to put your meal subscription on pause for the whole month.
We can provide you a partial refund of one week if needed.

Contact elana@sonomafamilymeal.org in advance to schedule one of these options.

7) What is the cost of the meal subscription?

The meal subscription costs $36 per week for the two-pack and $72 for the four-pack. This breaks down to $18/meal, which is enough to feed one person on average. Our meal subscription is charged monthly, making the two-pack $144 total and the four-pack $288.

8) How long will my meal stay good for?

Meals are cooked one day before distribution to pickup sites to leave our team enough time to pack and deliver on pickup day. Please consume your meal within four days from pickup to reduce risk of food illness.

9) Is SFM Provisions right for me?

Provisions is perfect for adventurous eaters who love discovering new flavors and dishes that might not typically be part of their home cooking repertoire. Our meals are partially prepared by alumni of our culinary job training program, and while every effort is made to ensure quality, occasional variations may occur. We encourage you to enhance flavors to suit your taste by adding extra seasonings or reheating with butter, if desired.

If you're seeking a subscription that delivers consistent variety and supports a great cause, we think you'll enjoy what Provisions has to offer! However, if you have very specific preferences or are looking for perfectly uniform meals, this may not be the best fit for your needs.

Should you have feedback or a less-than-satisfactory experience, please reach out to elana@sonomafamilymeal.org—we are committed to making things right and ensuring your satisfaction.

10) How does the auto-recurring subscription work and can I purchase it for one month only?

SFM Provisions is now exclusively available as a recurring subscription and is no longer offered as a one-time, one-month purchase. This change was driven by popular demand for an auto-renewing option, which our previous platform could not support. Additionally, we found that transitioning to a recurring-only model better aligns with our team’s capacity, ensuring smoother operations on the backend while maintaining high-quality service for our subscribers.

In an auto-recurring subscription, your card will be charged on the same date as your original payment date each month.

12) Can I change my meal type or size from week to week?

As our subscription is designed around a monthly schedule, we are unable to accommodate weekly changes to individual orders at this time, which includes changing your meal type or size. Unfortunately, the process for making these adjustments is quite complex and exceeds our current team's capacity and infrastructure. In the past, attempts to handle similar requests have led to unintended complications, and we want to ensure we maintain a smooth experience for all our customers.

If you'd like to change the size or meal type for future months, you will need to reach out to us to cancel your current subscription and re-sign up for your new preferences.

11) How do I cancel or pause my auto-recurring Provisions subscription or change my credit card details?

To cancel or pause your subscription or update the credit card on file, please contact Elana at 707-536-1026 or elana@sonomafamilymeal.org.

Subscriptions are automatically charged each month on the date you originally signed up. To avoid being charged for the upcoming month, please check your bank statement and contact us prior to your next scheduled payment date.

Please note that we are unable to prorate refunds. If you choose to cancel, you will continue to receive meals for the remainder of your current subscription month. As long as you cancel before your payment date, you will not be charged for the following month.

You also have the option to simply pause/suspend your subscription for the entire month if you know you will be out of town for a few weeks or just need to take a break. This pause is indefinite and there is no need to give us an end date.

13) What is a Half & Half meal?

Half & Half meals contain one portion of the veggie meal and one portion of the meat meal each week. Depending on the size you choose, each serving size would be for one or two people. So for example, if you get a Half & Half 2pack, you will receive one serving of the meat meal and one serving of the veggie meal.

It also depends on what box sizes our kitchen has for packing that week, but usually the 2packs Half & Half will come in two smaller separate containers, whereas the 4packs will contain both meat and veggie meals side by side in the same box. Your meals will always be in the same bag!

15) Additional questions?

Please contact our office at (707) 978-2340 or email elana@sonomafamilymeal.org.

14) What kind of container is my Provisions meal packaged in? And is it heat safe?

Sonoma Family Meal uses World Centric green paper products for your meals. Here is the specific container we use. It is microwave-safe, but we recommend transferring to a more oven-safe container for higher temp/length heating in the oven.