SANTA ROSA, May 10 - The Redwood Empire Food Bank is poised to launch its fourth annual summer lunch program that will serve thousands of low-income children during school vacation at some 40 locations throughout Sonoma County.

The program, however, is falling short of adult volunteers needed to operate the vital child nutrition and activity programs at 12 sites in Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati and Petaluma.

REFF executive director David Goodman today appealed to the public for help.

"The Redwood Empire Food Bank is a successful, community-based organization only because of the thousands of volunteers who help us run our programs throughout the year," said Goodman. "And this summer we stand to reach record numbers of low-income school children who otherwise run the risk of going hungry after school cafeterias close in June."

"But we still need help staffing 12 sites that are in jeopardy of closing unless more volunteers step forward," he said. "So, we are appealing to individuals, businesses, churches and community groups to volunteer for several hours a week to make sure these healthy lunches reach children in need during the school break."

"We have the sites. We just need more people to run this community-wide program for our kids," he said. "It's not the Grand Canyon, Acapulco or Lake Tahoe, but it promises to be your most memorable summer vacation yet."

Goodman said volunteers are needed for about two hours a day three and five days a week for the annual Every Child, Every Day Summer Hunger Initiative.

Volunteers are needed on site to receive, serve and account for meals prepared and delivered by participating school districts.

Volunteers are also being sought to oversee several sites, and guide activities held in conjunction with lunch.

Goodman encouraged community groups, service clubs, businesses, friends and neighbors to share the load.

"No one person has to do it all," he said.

In most cases, the volunteers are need for about 90 minutes to two hours a day. Volunteers are asked to make a minimum commitment of one day a week but are welcome to volunteer for additional days.

The summer lunch program is in its fourth year. It is designed to make sure that some 21,000 Sonoma County school children who rely on free or reduced price lunches during the school year don't go hungry when schools close down in June.

The program was launched in 2004 when the Food Bank and community groups organized and staffed 13 summer lunch sites. The program operated 31 sites in 2005 and 29 sites in 2006. This summer 40 sites are scheduled for operation beginning in June.

The lunches are provided free. They are prepared by school nutrition departments and delivered to the distribution sites.

The summer lunch schedule varies in each participating community. Some sites operate three days a week. Others operate Monday through Friday. The calendar is:

Santa Rosa: June 4 - August 10
Petaluma: June 11 - August 17
Rohnert Park/Cotati: June 11 - August 10
Healdsburg: June 25 - August 3

Sites still needing volunteers include:

Santa Rosa:
Jay's Place, 2805 Park Meadow Drive, M-F, 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.
Larkfield Oaks, 524 Airport Blvd., M-F, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Lavell Village, 165 Lavell Village Circle, M-F, 11:30 a.m. -1 p.m.
Olive Grove, 1789 Marlow Road, M-F, 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.
Timothy Commons, 419 Timothy Road, M-F, 12:00 -2 p.m.
Knox Presbyterian Church, 1650 West Third St., M-F, 12-12:30 p.m.

Rohnert Park:
Alicia Park, M-F, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Arbors Apartments, 480 City Hall Drive, MWF, 12-2 p.m.
The Gardens Apartments, 120 Santa Alicia Drive, MWF, 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.

Cotati:
Tower Apartments, 781 E. Cotati Ave., MWF, and 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.
Wilford Lane Apartments, 160 Wilford Lane, MWF, 12-2 p.m.

Petaluma:
Madrone Village, 712 Sycamore Lane, MWF, 12:00 -1:30 p.m.

To volunteer or get more information, contact Jill Barron or Gail Atkins, 707-523-7900.

For more information on the Food Bank and other programs, contact Goodman at 523-7900.