BEST NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
R EDWOOD EMPIRE FOOD BANK
By Bo Kearns
T hey say it takes a village to make things happen. The Redwood Empire Food Bank is that village. Over the past year the food bank has served over 142,000 individuals in five counties. And the demand for its services continues to grow. This year Redwood Empire Food Bank earned the honor of Best Nonprofit Organization in NBb’s annual readers’ poll. Much coordination and teamwork is required to ensure food gets from the source to the food bank’s 14 distribution centers. A staff of 84 employees and 11,000 volunteers make sure that happens. “830 new families apply each month,” says Rachelle Mesheau, director of marketing and communications. “With the ongoing demand, we’re always looking for new sources of food.” Innovative partnership initiatives have helped address the issue. One of those is with Novavine, a Santa Rosa nursery and propagator of grapevines. Propagation is a seasonal business. During the off season, Novavines’ 3-acre greenhouse facility is dedicated to growing fresh, culturally relevant produce like tomatillo, tomatoes, peppers and cilantro for the food bank. Last year the partnership produced 35,000 pounds of produce. And the program provides Novavines’ 25 employees with year-round employment. It’s a win-win. In another initiative the food bank has partnered with the Sonoma County Fair, 4H and FFA in promoting an animal-donation program.
Redwood Empire Food Bank can serve upward of 142,000 people per year.
That effort has borne fruition. In 2024, 54 animals were donated compared to 10 the year prior. “There are lots of reasons people come to us—whether it’s the loss of a job, illness or family crisis,” Mesheau says. “Most wait until they’ve exhausted all other means. That’s why we’re here providing weekly and monthly access to groceries to ensure no one goes hungry.” v refb.org
BEST LAW FIRM
By Janet Perry D
ARYL REESE LAW GROUP
D aryl Reese Law Group, a firm specializing in nonprofit and business law, strives to make its clients’ lives easier. Its website promises: “It’s so easy to step into a legal mess and not know it…we make sure you don’t.” With this motto at the forefront, the law firm wants to give a sense of calm to clientele. The proof is in the votes— and Daryl Reese Law Group has been voted Best Law Firm in our 2025 Best of the North Bay contest. Firm founder Daryl Reese says, “Our close-knit team takes pride in providing quality legal services that empower clients to achieve their business and charitable objectives and make a difference in the world. We do that by focusing on quality connections and work, both among our team and clients. We combine those values to provide a comprehensive understanding of business and nonprofit law. The firm works with clients to deliver solutions that foster “calm and confidence,” he adds, while also prioritizing client education to ensure a full understanding of their legal matters. “Our approach ensures that clients navigate their legal issues with clarity and assurance, enabling them to focus on their goals and aspirations with peace of mind.” Daryl Reese Law Firm sets out to put its clients first but that doesn’t mean the team doesn’t enjoy the occasional party. “We often have fun together as a team, with a capstone annual dinner bringing in a private chef to prepare a gourmet wine and food party,” Reese says. As it says at darylreeselaw.com , the team provides well-rounded service in order to positively impact their work for the good of the people they serve. v
Daryl Reese
42 Northbaybiz
Best of the North Bay 2025
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